ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›M›malign
ISEE/SSAThard
malign
to speak harmful and often false claims about someone
Synonyms
- slander
- defame
- vilify
Antonyms
malign in a sentence
The article sought to malign the scientist by distorting her research record.
His rivals circulated false stories to malign him before the election.
Where it comes from
From Latin malignari, meaning 'to act maliciously.'
Memory hook
MAL means 'bad': to malign someone is to speak badly of them.
Read it in context
- The Authority No Chart Showed Social Science