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| ma·lign [ mə ln ] |
transitive verb (past and past participle ma·ligned, present participle ma·lign·ing, 3rd person present singular ma·ligns) |
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| Definition: |
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criticize somebody spitefully: to criticize somebody or something in a spiteful and false or misleading way
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adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. harmful or evil: harmful or evil in nature, effect, or intention
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2. wishing to harm others: having or showing a desire to cause harm or pain to others
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| [15th century. Via French< Latin malignus "of evil kind"] |
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 ma·lign·er noun |
| ma·lign·ly adverb |
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| Word Key: Synonyms |
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malign, defame, slander, libel, vilify
CORE MEANING: to say or write something damaging about somebody
malign to criticize somebody in a spiteful and false or misleading way;
It was an old-fashioned firm and, as such, was much maligned by younger people.
You're maligning a man who was once your partner and a friend.
defame to attack somebody or somebody's reputation, character, or good name by making slanderous or libelous statements;
The lawyer claims his client defamed him in a television news program.
The company spokesperson explained, "Our rivals have defamed our character and called us pirates."
slander to make a false and malicious oral statement about somebody;
Tensions remain high between the two families, with each side slandering the other.
The general sued, claiming she had slandered him by saying he helped cover up military atrocities.
libel to publish false and malicious statements about somebody;
The detective claimed that he was libeled in a television documentary.
vilify to make malicious and abusive statements about somebody;
There is nothing to be gained by vilifying these vulnerable homeless people.
The leader of the party has been vilified as a racist. |
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