malign
muh-LYN
/məˈlaɪn/
To speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner (verb); evil in nature or effect (adjective).
As a verb, means spreading false, damaging claims; as an adjective, describes harmful forces.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'malignus', combining 'malus' (evil) and 'genus' (birth or kind), literally meaning 'born evil'. Passed into French as 'maligne' before joining English.
Word relationships
- slander: Slander is specifically spoken false statement in law; malign is broader for harmful disparagement.
- vilify: Vilify means painting as evil; malign means speaking spitefully against.
- praise: To express warm admiration of.
- benign: Harmless or beneficial in nature.
Commonly confused with
- benign: Benign means gentle or harmless; malign means harmful or evil.
Word family
- malignant (adjective): Harmful, infectious, or malevolent.
- malignity (noun): Deep-rooted malice or hostility.
Collocations
- malign influence
- malign intent
- unfairly malign
Idioms & expressions
- cast aspersions
- slander someone's name
Example sentences
- "The lawyer argued that the media had sought to malign his client's character without proof." Legal defence
- "The story depicts a malign presence that influences the characters' decisions." Literary analysis
Memory hook
When you malign someone, you align them with MAL (bad) qualities. Malign = Speak bad of someone.
When not to use
Do not use as a verb when criticism is truthful and constructive.
Fun facts
- Medical terminology uses 'malignant' directly from this same root to describe aggressive tumors.
Related words
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