malign

Meaning

Adj

1. Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
2. Malevolent.
3. Malignant.

Verb

1. (transitive) To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
2. (archaic, transitive) To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.

Synonyms

slander

defame

vilify

libel

traduce

malevolent

backbite

malefic

calumniate

evil

denigrate

revile

malignant

bad

👎

disparage

nasty

sinister

badmouth

discredit

injurious

asperse

hurtful

decry

harmful

speak evil of

run down

talk scandal

abuse

evil-minded

pernicious

deleterious

blacken

spiteful

smear

wicked

slur

malicious

baleful

drag through the mud

unkindly

unpropitious

unsympathetic

vicious

vilipend

virulent

wrong

accuse falsely

bear malice

diss

speak against

Translations

verleumden

calumniar

calomnier

maligno

böse

bösartig

difamar

belasteren

diffamer

diffamare

maligno

übelwollend

schädlich

anschwärzen

calunniare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/məˈlaɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: maligne

In summary

From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.