malign
1 of 2adjective
malign
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
When a word's got mal- in it, it's no good. That prefix traces to the Latin word malus (which means "bad"), and it puts the negative vibes in both the verb and adjective forms of malign (from the Latin malignus, meaning "evil in nature") and a host of other English words. You can see it in malpractice (bad medical practice) and malady (a bad condition, such as a disease or illness, of the body or mind). A malefactor is someone guilty of bad deeds, and malice is a desire to cause injury, pain, or distress to another person. Other mal- formed words include malaise, malcontent, maladroit, malodorous, and malnourished.
Synonyms
Adjective
- bad [slang]
- bitchy
- catty
- cruel
- despiteful
- hateful
- malevolent
- malicious
- malignant
- mean
- nasty
- spiteful
- vicious
- virulent
Verb
- asperse
- blacken
- calumniate
- defame
- libel
- slander
- smear
- traduce
- vilify
Example Sentences
WIRED, 8 Sep. 2022 Attorney Mark Dubowitz testified before Congress in July 2016 that without any way to control usage, aircraft may be commandeered at the whim of the IRGC to move troops and supplies for malign activities. Fred Shaheen, WSJ, 13 June 2022 Exposing and dismantling malign CCP propaganda and influence efforts — and standing with Beijing’s victims and targets — is an essential project. The Editors, National Review, 3 Aug. 2022 Six years later, the threat of hacking and malign foreign influence remain, but 2022 is a different time and a new top-line risk has emerged: physical safety threats to election officials, their families, and their workplaces. Wired, 22 July 2022 Many of the Gulf nations—Saudi Arabia, in particular—have grave concerns about Iran’s malign activity in the region. Aamer Madhani, ajc, 16 July 2022 Iran would intensify its malign activities, from terrorism to proxy war to hostage-taking, knowing that the bomb gives it cover. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 16 July 2022 Will those who orchestrated the events leading up to January 6th be given a pass for their malign actions? Charlie Dent, CNN, 21 June 2022 There are many developers currently building and deploying creative, common-sense solutions to combat the malign influences that have corrupted our use of popular platforms. Maritza Johnson, Fortune, 24 June 2022 Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2022 The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for Central California, accused The Athletic and its former writer Molly Knight of a harassment campaign to malign him. NBC News, 30 Mar. 2022 Herds of invasive wild horses have, in recent decades, been thorns in the sides of environmentalists who malign the animals’ destruction of resources critical to native wildlife. J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 11 Feb. 2022 The result of the flawed process by election novices, the county found, was to falsely malign county employees, call into question the validity of legitimate votes and damage the confidence of the electorate. Rosalind S. Helderman, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Jan. 2022 Palmer said what still hurts is when people malign her sister’s reputation. NBC News, 19 Jan. 2022 Yet malign moral violations tended to elicit negative reactions. Harry Bruinius, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Nov. 2021 The Delhi police, however, sniffed an international conspiracy to malign India in this. Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2021 Some in the English-speaking minority fear that legislation proposed by the provincial government to strengthen French will violate their rights and that the controversy will be used to unfairly malign the many of them who have learned French. Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Adjective
Middle English maligne, from Anglo-French, from Latin malignus, from male badly + gignere to beget — more at mal-, kin
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French maligner to act maliciously, from Late Latin malignari, from Latin malignus — see malign entry 1
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
malign 1 of 2
adjective
malign
2 of 2verb
malign 1 of 2
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- malicious
- cruel
- vicious
- malignant
- hateful
- malevolent
- nasty
- despiteful
- spiteful
- virulent
- bad
- venomous
- poisonous
- evil
- catty
- bitchy
- jealous
- mean
- bitter
- hostile
- vindictive
- harsh
- scoundrelly
- obnoxious
- unkind
- disparaging
- devious
- derogatory
- vitriolic
- envious
- baneful
- snakelike
- opprobrious
- baleful
- inimical
- deprecating
- unkindly
- contemptuous
- rancorous
- scornful
- resentful
- snide
- disdainful
- unloving
- acrimonious
- caustic
- jaundiced
- scurvy
- snotty
- mean-spirited
- scathing
- acrid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- benign
- benevolent
- loving
- good
- sympathetic
- benignant
- kind
- warm
- kindly
- compassionate
- genial
- friendly
- kindhearted
- amiable
- pleasant
- gracious
- unmalicious
- agreeable
- cordial
- affable
- sweet
- nice
- affectionate
- amorous
- noble
- warmhearted
- good-hearted
- humane
- tender
- philanthropic
- magnanimous
- altruistic
- humanitarian
- tenderhearted
- philanthropical
- high-minded
malign
2 of 2verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- libel
- smear
- slander
- defame
- vilify
- humiliate
- discredit
- disgrace
- denigrate
- calumniate
- asperse
- disparage
- traduce
- belittle
- shame
- blacken
- detract
- dishonor
- disdain
- degrade
- debase
- humble
- scorn
- abase
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- honor
- exalt
- glorify
- commend
- respect
- applaud
- praise
- regard
- admire
- esteem
- worship
- adore
- acclaim
- revere
- venerate
Synonym Chooser
The words baleful and sinister are common synonyms of malign. While all three words mean "seriously threatening evil or disaster," malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful.
In some situations, the words baleful and malign are roughly equivalent. However, baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly.
The synonyms sinister and malign are sometimes interchangeable, but sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer.