malign 1 of 2

malign

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word malign different from other adjectives like it?

The words baleful and sinister are common synonyms of malign. While all three words mean "seriously threatening evil or disaster," malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful.

the malign effects of racism

When could baleful be used to replace malign?

In some situations, the words baleful and malign are roughly equivalent. However, baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly.

exerting a corrupt and baleful influence

When would sinister be a good substitute for malign?

The synonyms sinister and malign are sometimes interchangeable, but sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer.

a sinister aura haunts the place

Examples of malign in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This is the president who spent his first year in office delaying missile tests so as not to provoke Russia, and who couldn’t bring himself to kill a malign Russian pipeline project that would have put a noose around Ukraine’s stability and security. The Editors, National Review, 10 Nov. 2023 In the context of Oxford in the early 1980s, that meant arguing that American influence on the world was not entirely malign. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023
Verb
The Congressional Leadership Fund, much maligned by conservatives in recent years, may also be mobilized to assist Perry. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Oct. 2024 Klutch maintains that Termini elected to sue, which is public and, given the nature of his lawsuit, sure to attract headlines, instead of complying with an arbitration provision in order to boost his image and malign Paul’s. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for malign 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'malign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Malign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malign. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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