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malign

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of malign

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
  • He used his power for malign purposes.
Synonyms of malign

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

humane

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, defame, libel, slander, smear, traduce, vilify
Words Related to malign

belittle, denigrate, detract, disparage

discredit, disgrace, dishonor, shame

abase, debase, degrade, humble, humiliate

disdain, scorn
Near Antonyms of malign

exalt, glorify, honor

acclaim, applaud, commend, praise

esteem, respect

admire, regard

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

  1. 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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