English vocabulary · B2
Malign
/məˈlaɪn/ · v., adj.
It means to say false or harmful things about someone.
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Example sentences
- She felt maligned after her colleague spread false stories.
- The press maligned him before the trial even started.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- mal — bad (from Latin)
- ign — born (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- slander (false statements damage a reputation)
- defame (attacking reputation through lies)
- smear (damaging reputation through accusations)
Words with the same root
mal — bad
- malice — a deliberate desire to harm others
- malfunction — to work badly or break down
- malevolent — having evil intentions toward others
Lesson notes
Malign. It means to say false or harmful things about someone. As an adjective, it means evil or causing harm.
Similar words are slander, defame, and smear. Use malign when someone spreads false and harmful words about a person.
She felt maligned after her colleague spread false stories. The press maligned him before the trial even started.
Mal means bad. Ign means born. Born bad at the root — that dark nature is malign.