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Detrimental vs Malign - What's the difference?

detrimental | malign |

As adjectives the difference between detrimental and malign

is that detrimental is causing damage or harm while malign is evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.

As a verb malign is

to make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.

detrimental

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Causing damage or harm.
  • Smoking tobacco can be detrimental to your health.

    Synonyms

    * (causing damage or harm) harmful, injurious; see also

    Antonyms

    * (causing damage or harm) beneficial

    malign

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • Witchcraft may be by operation of malign spirits.
  • malevolent.
  • * 1891 -
  • He was sure they [the stars] were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance.
  • (oncology) malignant
  • a malign ulcer
    (Francis Bacon)

    Antonyms

    * benign

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
  • * South
  • To be envied and shot at; to be maligned standing, and to be despised falling.
  • (archaic) To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.
  • * Spenser
  • The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their goods, or murdering them.

    Synonyms

    * See also