malign

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb speak unfavorably about
  2. adjective evil or harmful in nature or influence
  3. adjective having or exerting a malignant influence

Etymology

From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.

In classic literature

Synonyms

badmouth, traduce, drag through the mud

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