as in libeled
to make untrue and harmful statements about
a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone
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Recent Examples of maligned
The move adds to longstanding concern among health experts that chaos and political interference under Kennedy—a staunch anti-vaccine activist who has long falsely maligned COVID-19 vaccines—is deeply undermining science at federal agencies and beyond.
—
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Before and after taking charge of HHS, Kennedy called the CDC corrupt and maligned its officials as beholden to pharmaceutical companies.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Some of the top American stars, such as Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper, have been maligned for their inability to win the big game.
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Even the scenes in the endlessly maligned New York City (played at least partially by Fort Worth, Texas) look beautiful, undermining the nightmarish declarations of Sheridan’s scripts.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Yeezy representative Milo Yiannopoulos maligned him and our firm in the press.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Journalists related stories to Brown of the future princess giving them the slip, joking with them, managing her media relations so she wouldn’t be overexposed or maligned.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
And though Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena has been much maligned, for barely being ready in time for the hockey tournament, its acoustics met the moment.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Before and after taking charge of HHS, Kennedy called the CDC corrupt and maligned its officials as beholden to pharmaceutical companies.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Some of the top American stars, such as Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper, have been maligned for their inability to win the big game.
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Even the scenes in the endlessly maligned New York City (played at least partially by Fort Worth, Texas) look beautiful, undermining the nightmarish declarations of Sheridan’s scripts.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
Yeezy representative Milo Yiannopoulos maligned him and our firm in the press.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Journalists related stories to Brown of the future princess giving them the slip, joking with them, managing her media relations so she wouldn’t be overexposed or maligned.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
And though Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena has been much maligned, for barely being ready in time for the hockey tournament, its acoustics met the moment.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maligned
Verb
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At the start of the short, paved trail, the green slopes appear smeared with vague suggestions of ocher and mauve.—
Alissa Greenberg,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
One of the men smeared our foreheads with sandalwood paste, vermilion, and rice.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Much of Orbán’s campaign vilified neighboring Ukraine.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Pat Fitzgerald was vilified, then vindicated.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tiger Woods is reportedly reeling after his latest DUI arrest, humiliated by the fallout.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Rockies have been humiliated before in their first home game, but never as badly as this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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New Orleans has long been notorious for embracing such scoundrels, a reputation that isn’t exactly helped by the fact that, for many years, disgraced attorneys who lost their licenses in Louisiana and applied for readmission to the bar often got it.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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These brands have pulled sponsorship of Wireless Festival, which disgraced itself recently by scheduling Ye (formerly Kanye West) to headline.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now, the ultimate question of whether Walters slandered Miller will return to the district court.—
Dale Denwalt,
Oklahoman,
29 Jan. 2026
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Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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New science and forensics have since discredited the expert’s conclusion, prompting Gurley to throw out the convictions and order a new trial.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
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In Mexico the loss of territory discredited the country’s conservative government and left many of its citizens unsure of their country’s future as an independent state.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maligned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maligned. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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