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

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

signed feigned aligned designed unsigned assigned resigned undersigned

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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.