Definition of malignant
1a obsolete : malcontent, disaffectedb : evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious a powerful and malignant influencec : passionately and relentlessly malevolent : aggressively malicious the malignant tongues of gossipers
2 : tending to produce death or deterioration malignant malaria; especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally a malignant tumor
malignantly
adverbExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of malignant in a Sentence
a highly malignant form of cancer
a powerful and malignant influence
Recent Examples of malignant from the Web
-
Senator Ted Kennedy, who died in 2009 after being diagnosed with brain cancer one year prior, had a malignant glioma, a category which includes glioblastomas.
-
Glioblastoma is considered a grade IV tumor, the most malignant of gliomas.
-
Glioblastoma is considered a grade IV tumor, the most malignant of gliomas.
-
The real culprit was a malignant tumor in his left kidney that was pressing on nerves from his lower spine.
-
According to ABC 7 Amarillo, Jayro was diagnosed on December 27, 2016, with a malignant Rhabdoid tumor.
-
The process turbocharges the T-cells to attack B-cells, a normal part of the immune system that turn malignant in leukemia.
-
The medicine, sterile talc powder, is used to treat malignant pleural effusion, a disease affecting about 150,000 Americans that involves excessive fluid buildup around the lungs and can cause shortness of breath and chest pain.
-
In A.F. Harrold’s gripping novel set in England, the girl, who goes by Frank, cannot seem to turn around without being persecuted by an older boy and his malignant cronies.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malignant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of malignant
Late Latin malignant-, malignans, present participle of malignari
MALIGNANT Defined for English Language Learners
malignant
playDefinition of malignant for English Language Learners
-
medical : very serious and dangerous : tending or likely to grow and spread in a rapid and uncontrolled way that can cause death
-
: very evil
MALIGNANT Defined for Kids
Medical Dictionary
malignant
playMedical Definition of malignant
1: tending to produce death or deterioration malignant malaria; especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally malignant tumors—compare benign 1
2: of unfavorable prognosis : not responding favorably to treatment psychotic reactions with a malignant trend
Learn More about malignant
-
See words that rhyme with malignant Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for malignant Spanish Central: Translation of malignant Nglish: Translation of malignant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of malignant for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up malignant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!