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
Many trainers of that era maligned Islam and backed policies that violated the rights of ordinary American Muslims in the name of counterterrorism, according to civil liberties watchdogs.
—
Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
Tucci, who reprises his role as Miranda’s right-hand man Nigel Kipling, opted for Giorgio Armani, while his real life sister-in-law Blunt, who plays the oft maligned first assistant Emily Charlton, looked gorgeous in Schiaparelli spring 2026 couture.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026
The most versatile vehicle on the road is the minivan and, like cargo shorts, it’s often maligned for no good reason.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026
Once maligned as one of the worst video-game movies ever made, it’s now still maligned as one of the worst video-game movies ever made.
—Mike Drucker, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
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
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
Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
Tucci, who reprises his role as Miranda’s right-hand man Nigel Kipling, opted for Giorgio Armani, while his real life sister-in-law Blunt, who plays the oft maligned first assistant Emily Charlton, looked gorgeous in Schiaparelli spring 2026 couture.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026
The most versatile vehicle on the road is the minivan and, like cargo shorts, it’s often maligned for no good reason.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026
Once maligned as one of the worst video-game movies ever made, it’s now still maligned as one of the worst video-game movies ever made.
—Mike Drucker, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maligned
Verb
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Greenhaven had racked up years of health violations, including from letting untrained workers administer medications, lacking enough employees to care for people with dementia, and neglecting a resident who smeared feces over his body, bed, floor, and bathroom, the notice said.—
Jordan Rau,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
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Many told me the liberal media had smeared them as racists, xenophobes and misogynists.—
Nataliya Gumenyuk,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His presence will also mean that dinner guest lists are closely-watched, with CBS News planning to bring Secretary Pete Hegseth (who has vilified media coverage in press briefings), while the influencer Clavicular is expected to make the rounds as well.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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Much of Orbán’s campaign vilified neighboring Ukraine.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The series follows Sabrina (Ayres), who is humiliated and emotionally devastated after being betrayed by her boyfriend.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
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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
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 27 Apr. 2026.
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