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Maltreat vs Malign - What's the difference?

maltreat | malign | Related terms |

Maltreat is a related term of malign.


As verbs the difference between maltreat and malign

is that maltreat is to treat badly, to abuse while malign is to make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.

As an adjective malign is

evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.

maltreat

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To treat badly, to abuse.
  • *1977 , (Alistair Horne), A Savage War of Peace , New York Review Books 2006, p. 217:
  • *:he received a telegram from the prime minister ordering that on no account were Yacef and Zohra Drif to be maltreated in any way.

    • Related terms

    *

    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