as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
both parties to the divorce showed a malign desire to make each other's future life utterly miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to libel
to make untrue and harmful statements about
a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of malign
K.j. Yossman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
That limitation, plus the nature of the vehicles and the target of their surveillance, strongly suggests that malign foreign actors launched them from inside the United States.
—
Brynn Tannehill,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2026
With all this planning is also the usually maligned task of meal planning.
—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malign
Adjective
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.
—
K.j. Yossman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
That limitation, plus the nature of the vehicles and the target of their surveillance, strongly suggests that malign foreign actors launched them from inside the United States.
—
Brynn Tannehill,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
That may be why Intel is once again looking to bring back Raptor Lake, a performative, but maligned architectural design that sucked up a lot of power to deliver its impressive gaming and productivity performance.
—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2026
With all this planning is also the usually maligned task of meal planning.
—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malign
Adjective
-
He was charged with arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
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Johnson said the bill was meant to curtail malicious records requests, which do happen, where a citizen goes after copious amounts of records just to be a jerk and cost the government time and money.
Verb
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In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.
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As a new, inexpensive Chevrolet appeared in 1927 and The Dearborn Independent was sued for libeling a number of Jewish businessmen, Ford threw in the towel and apologized.
Adjective
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Swift moved on from one Brit to the next, quietly dating actor Joe Alwyn from 2017 to 2023, while the world spent back-to-back cruel summers without Taymerica.
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This is particularly gratifying given the absurd and cruel trolling the young actress received from the toxic corners of internet fandom leading up to the film’s release.
Verb
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One group inflated a giant disco ball, while another smeared themselves with body paint next to a line of rehearsing dancers.
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The costume—doofy top hat, smeared white paint—suggested full commitment to the bit.
Adjective
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
Verb
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Love was vilified for Cobain’s death, accused of complicity, exploitation, or worse, resulting in a real sense of danger.
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Judge Salas told us vilifying judges is eroding trust in the courts.
Adjective
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Conservatives are often accused of being divisive, hateful and exclusionary.
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On Sunday, June 14, UFC fighter Josh Hokit took the opportunity after his win on the White House lawn to repeat a hateful lie about the former first lady.
Cite this Entry
“Malign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malign. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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