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adjective

maligned

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 notes

In plain EnglishGiven a bad reputation, often unfairly — usually seen as "much-maligned."

Common pairings
much-maligned unfairly maligned

Word Forms

more maligned comparative, most maligned superlative

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The much-_____ manager was actually right all along.

Rhymes for maligned

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial