malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt 
1
: tending to produce death or deterioration
malignant malaria
2
a
: evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious
a powerful and malignant influence
b
: passionately and relentlessly malevolent : aggressively malicious
the malignant tongues of gossipers
c
obsolete
: malcontent, disaffected
malignantly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of malignant in a Sentence
a highly malignant form of cancer
a powerful and malignant influence
Recent Examples on the Web
Isabella Strahan is living life to the fullest over a year after being diagnosed and treated for a malignant brain tumor.
—
Lawrence Yee, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Suzuki, who served as the CEO of Suzuki Motor from 1978 to 2015, died of malignant lymphoma, a type of cancer that occurs when white blood cells become cancerous and form lumps in the lymph nodes and organs.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Weiner told her a large malignant mass was compressing Nadine’s lungs and would soon suffocate her.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
Others worry that autonomous systems might victimize vulnerable populations because of biases in their training data or that nonstate actors might hack or steal autonomous weapons and use them to malignant ends.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant 
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Lawrence Yee, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Suzuki, who served as the CEO of Suzuki Motor from 1978 to 2015, died of malignant lymphoma, a type of cancer that occurs when white blood cells become cancerous and form lumps in the lymph nodes and organs.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Weiner told her a large malignant mass was compressing Nadine’s lungs and would soon suffocate her.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
Others worry that autonomous systems might victimize vulnerable populations because of biases in their training data or that nonstate actors might hack or steal autonomous weapons and use them to malignant ends.
—Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant
Dictionary Entries Near malignant
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malignant. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt
1
: evil in influence or effect : injurious
3
: tending to produce death
malignant tumors
malignantly
adverb
Medical Definition
malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt
1
: tending to produce death or deterioration
malignant malaria
especially
: tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally
malignant tumors
compare benign sense 1
2
: of unfavorable prognosis : not responding favorably to treatment
psychotic reactions with a malignant trend
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