1
Core action
Speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
Example
The pamphlet maligned reformers as enemies of the state.
malign
/məˈlaɪn/ · muh-LYNEverb
Speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
Use malign to express this relationship precisely: speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
What malign Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
She defended the scientist whom the article had maligned.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Critique the argument without maligning its author.
Use malign Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The pamphlet maligned reformers as enemies of the state.
She defended the scientist whom the article had maligned.
Critique the argument without maligning its author.
Precision Matters
Malign overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
malign
vs.Means speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
extol
Means praise someone or something enthusiastically and publicly.
malign
vs.Means speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
vindicate
Means to free from blame or prove a person, claim, or decision correct.
malign
vs.Means speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
acclaim
Means enthusiastic and public praise.
malign
vs.Means speak about someone or something in a spiteful, damaging, or unfairly critical way.
disparage
Means speak of someone or something in a belittling, dismissive, or disrespectful way.
Test malign in Context
The commentator attacks the researchers' reputations instead of their evidence.
1
Unable to refute the findings, the commentator tried to ___ the researchers who produced them.