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Malign vs Malicious - What's the difference?

malign | malicious |

As adjectives the difference between malign and malicious

is that malign is evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence while malicious is of, pertaining to, or as a result of malice or spite.

As a verb malign

is to make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.

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)

    Related terms

    * malignant

    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

    Anagrams

    * * English transitive verbs

    malicious

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, pertaining to, or as a result of malice or spite
  • spiteful and deliberately harmful
    • He was sent off for a malicious tackle on Jones.

    Synonyms

    * malevolent * evil * See also

    Derived terms

    * maliciously * maliciousness * malicious mischief