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 bad [slang], bitchy, catty, cruel, despiteful, malevolent, malicious, hateful, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vicious, virulentRelated Words 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, venomousNear Antonyms compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted; affable, agreeable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, gracious, nice, pleasant; affectionate, amorous, sweet, tender, tenderhearted; humane; altruistic, high-minded, humanitarian, magnanimous, noble, philanthropic (also philanthropical)Antonyms benevolent, benign, benignant, loving, unmalicious

to make untrue and harmful statements about a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone Synonyms asperse, blacken, calumniate, defame, libel, slander, smear, traduce, vilifyRelated Words belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame; abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate; disdain, scornNear Antonyms exalt, glorify, honor; acclaim, applaud, commend, praise; esteem, respect; admire, regard; adore, revere, venerate, worship