adjective
maligned
Maligned (adjective) means Spoken about unfairly or harshly; the target of unjust criticism. Example: “The much-maligned manager was actually right all along.”
adjective
1
Spoken about unfairly or harshly; the target of unjust criticism.
"The much-maligned manager was actually right all along."
"Fast food gets a maligned reputation, even though some options are quite healthy."
How to use maligned
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGiven a bad reputation, often unfairly — usually seen as "much-maligned."
Common pairings
much-maligned
unfairly maligned
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more maligned
- Superlative
- most maligned
Fill the gap
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The much-_____ manager was actually right all along.
Rhymes for maligned
See all rhymes for maligned →Frequently asked questions
What does “maligned” mean?
The word “maligned” means spoken about unfairly or harshly; the target of unjust criticism. In plain terms, given a bad reputation, often unfairly — usually seen as "much-maligned.".
How do you use “maligned” in a sentence?
Here is “maligned” used in a sentence: “The much-maligned manager was actually right all along.”
What part of speech is “maligned”?
“Maligned” is an adjective.
What is the meaning of maligned?
"maligned" (adjective) means spoken about unfairly or harshly; the target of unjust criticism.