as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
both parties to the divorce showed a malign desire to make each other's future life utterly miserable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to libel
to make untrue and harmful statements about
a candidate who believes that it is possible to win an election without maligning anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of malign
Daniel R. Green, Baltimore Sun, 15 Dec. 2024
Project Texas would provide for a series of audits and code reviews of the algorithm in the United States, in which U.S. actors, including engineers at Oracle Corporation, would have an opportunity to detect any malign foreign influence over the recommendations engine.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
Michael Russo, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Despite such movies as Ghost, Indecent Proposal, and Disclosure cementing her as one of the few women of the time who could open a film at the box office, Moore was often maligned by critics.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malign
Adjective
Other necessary actions would include reducing malign economic influence, curtailing their global trade, and tightening what would likely be a robust set of sanctions.
—Daniel R. Green, Baltimore Sun, 15 Dec. 2024
Project Texas would provide for a series of audits and code reviews of the algorithm in the United States, in which U.S. actors, including engineers at Oracle Corporation, would have an opportunity to detect any malign foreign influence over the recommendations engine.
—Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024
Verb
The Wild’s penalty kill has been much maligned this season, rightfully so.
—Michael Russo, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Despite such movies as Ghost, Indecent Proposal, and Disclosure cementing her as one of the few women of the time who could open a film at the box office, Moore was often maligned by critics.
—Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malign
Adjective
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Fraudsters are increasingly using generative AI to write convincing phishing emails, improve deepfakes, and draft new forms of malicious code — making scams harder to detect.—
Sam Sabin,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious apps is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Wright got so big on social media even Piers Morgan invited her to libel Jay Z and Beyonce on his platform.—
Rob Marriott,
VIBE.com,
30 Dec. 2024
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Though he was not named in the ad, Mr. Sullivan asserted he had been personally libeled by The Times and four Black ministers who were signed to the ad.—
David W. Dunlap,
New York Times,
22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
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Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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There is no music in the teaser, and the only action comes with j-hope stands up and an unseen hand smears his face with white paint as the song’s title pops up on screen.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
19 Mar. 2025
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Now, finally, parents have an ally in the White House—rather than an administration working hand in glove with activist organizations to smear them and chill their political participation.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Contrary to what many people believe, pit bulls don't naturally have a bad temperament, are not inherently vicious, and are not more dangerous than other dogs.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
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Ferran’s Blanche puts up a vicious fight, but Mescal’s Stanley relishes the roughhousing.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Utah is poised to abolish its practice of automatically mailing ballots to all voters, handing a victory to President Donald Trump and his Republican allies who have vilified voting by mail since his 2020 election defeat.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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Unlike carbohydrates and fats, protein is the only one of the three macronutrients that doesn’t get vilified – instead of cutting back, we’re encouraged to boost our intake.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The booing at the mention of Huizenga’s name was so hateful that an embarrassed Marino had to beg it to stop.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
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That a little rectangle of cardboard and paper and ink is no match for all the hateful rhetoric about books somehow hurting children.—
Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malign. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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