Thesaurus

malign

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of malign

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 of malign

bad [slang], bitchy, catty, cruel, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vicious, virulent

Words Related to malign

devious, scoundrelly, scurvy, snakelike

acrimonious, bitter, envious, jaundiced, jealous, rancorous, resentful, vindictive, vitriolic

contemptuous, deprecating, derogatory, disdainful, disparaging, mean-spirited, obnoxious, opprobrious, scornful, snide, snotty, unkind, unkindly, unloving

baleful, baneful, evil

harsh, hostile, inimical

acrid, caustic, poisonous, scathing, venomous

Near Antonyms of malign

compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted

affable, agreeable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, gracious, nice, pleasant

affectionate, amorous, sweet, tender, tenderhearted

altruistic, high-minded, humanitarian, magnanimous, noble, philanthropic (also philanthropical)

Antonyms of malign

benevolent, benign, benignant, loving, unmalicious

Synonym Discussion of malign

sinister, baleful, malign mean seriously threatening evil or disaster. sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer.

- a sinister aura haunts the place

baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly.

- exerting a corrupt and baleful influence

malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful.

- the malign effects of racism

malign

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of malign

to make untrue and harmful statements about

a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone

Synonyms of malign

asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, libel, slander, smear, traduce, vilify

Words Related to malign

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate

Near Antonyms of malign

exalt, glorify, honor

acclaim, applaud, commend, praise

esteem, respect

adore, revere, venerate, worship

Synonym Discussion of malign

malign, traduce, asperse, vilify, calumniate, defame, slander mean to injure by speaking ill of. malign suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying.

- the most maligned monarch in British history

traduce stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim.

- so traduced the governor that he was driven from office

asperse implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction.

- both candidates aspersed the other's motives

vilify implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse.

- no criminal was more vilified in the press

calumniate imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions.

- falsely calumniated as a traitor

defame stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name.

- sued them for defaming her reputation

slander stresses the suffering of the victim.

- town gossips slandered their good name

Learn More about malign

See words that rhyme with malign Dictionary: Definition of malign Spanish Central: Translation of malign Nglish: Translation of malign for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of malign for Arabic speakers

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