malign
to speak about in a harmful and untrue way
Word origin: From Latin malignus, of evil nature.
Malign in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing malign in a sentence.
Critics maligned the author for views she had never actually held.
Rival publishers maligned the new journal as a vanity venture, though its peer-review standards were in fact rigorous.
Using “malign” well
To malign someone is to speak harmfully and untruthfully about them, implying defamation rather than fair criticism. As an adjective it can also mean evil in influence, as in a malign tumor.
More GRE words starting with M
disturbing and horrifying because concerned with death
a ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of authority, or a heavy spiked club used as a weapon
to soften or break down by soaking in liquid
a scheming or crafty plot intended to do harm
a violent whirlpool or scene of turbulent disorder
having or showing great authority and command
the quality of being generous, noble-minded, and forgiving, especially toward rivals or enemies
generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival or weaker party
Questions about “malign”
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