Meaning
Malign means to speak badly about someone or say harmful things that damage their reputation. As an adjective, it means evil in nature or effect, or showing ill will.
Grammar and Usage
As a verb
- Part of speech: Verb (transitive)
- Meaning: To speak harmful lies or criticisms about someone.
- Typical pattern: malign + someone / something
Example structure:
He was maligned by the press for years.
As an adjective
- Part of speech: Adjective
- Meaning: Evil, harmful, or having a bad influence.
- Typical pattern: a malign influence / a malign force
Example structure:
A malign spirit haunted the village.
Common Phrases
- malign someone’s character
- malign intent
- a malign influence
- malign spirit
Collocations
- Verb + malign: unfairly malign, unjustly malign
- Adjective + noun: malign influence, malign force, malign intent, malign effect
- Noun + of: the malign nature of hatred
Examples
- The politician claimed that he was being maligned by his opponents.
- She has often been maligned in the media for her outspoken views.
- A malign influence spread through the organization, creating distrust.
- He looked at her with a malign smile, full of hidden malice.
- Rumors can easily malign an innocent person’s reputation.
- The villagers believed the sickness came from a malign spirit.
- It is wrong to malign someone without knowing the full story.
- The malign intent behind the message was unmistakable.
Synonyms or Related
- Verb: slander, defame, vilify, speak ill of, bad-mouth
- Adjective: evil, malevolent, wicked, sinister
Antonym
- Verb: praise, commend, extol
- Adjective: benign, kind, benevolent