malign

Meaning

Adj

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

Verb

1. To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
2. 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

speak ill of

tongue-lash

make a false charge

meanspirited

speak slightingly of

raduce

malevolous

villainize

adverse

villainise

allege

baneful

beastly

belittle

bespatter

betray

black

blame

cantankerous

carping

cattish

catty

damaging

depreciate

despiteful

detrimental

disastrous

distressing

frame

gossip

hide

ill-favored

ill favoured

incriminate

maleficent

mean

miscall

naughty

noisome

noxious

prejudicial

rail

ruin

shabby

unfavorable

unfavourable

unfriendly

unkind

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.