Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of malign

69 similar words · 1 opposite word

Another word for malign is wrong. Other synonyms of malign are dirty, foul, libel, stain and sully. The opposite of malign is benign.

Synonyms and similar words for malign

verbTo make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.

  • asperseTo falsely or maliciously charge someone.
  • denigrateTo criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame.
  • libelTo defame (someone), especially in a manner that meets the legal definition of libel.
  • assassinate figurativelyTo harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
  • backbiteTo make spiteful slanderous or defamatory statements about someone.
  • badmouthTo criticize or malign, especially unfairly or spitefully.
  • befoul figurativelyTo stain or mar (e.g., with infamy or disgrace).
  • besmirchTo tarnish something, especially someone's reputation.
  • besmearTo damage the reputation of, to tarnish, to sully.
  • blackenTo defame or sully.
  • blazeTo disclose; bewray; defame.
  • blemishTo tarnish (reputation, character, etc.); to defame.
  • blotTo stain with infamy; to disgrace.
  • blurTo sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
  • calumniateTo levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or...
  • calumnyTo make false accusations or levy false charges against a person with the intent to tarnish that person's reputation or...
  • chat shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • chat shite Ireland, UK
  • cloudTo blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish (reputation or character).
  • defame
  • demonize figurativelyTo describe or represent as evil or diabolic, usually falsely.
  • depraveTo speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile.
  • depreciateTo belittle or disparage.
  • detractTo take credit or reputation from; to derogate; to defame or decry.
  • dirtyTo stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.
  • discredit
  • disgraceTo put someone or something out of favor; to bring shame or ignominy upon.
  • disparage
  • disreputeTo bring into disrepute; to hold in dishonor.
  • diss slangTo put (someone) down, or show disrespect by the use of insulting language or dismissive behaviour.
  • drag through the mudTo tarnish or spoil enough so that something or someone is no longer respectable.
  • foulTo besmirch.
  • infamizeTo make infamous; to defame or smear.
  • lampoonTo satirize or poke fun at.
  • monsterizeTo give someone a very bad reputation; demonize, vilify.
  • muddy figurativelyTo damage (a person or their reputation); to sully, to tarnish.
  • reproachTo disgrace, or bring shame upon.
  • revileTo attack (someone) with abusive language.
  • shit-talk slang, vulgar
  • slag UK, slangTo talk badly about; to malign or denigrate (someone).
  • smearTo damage someone's reputation by slandering, misrepresenting, or otherwise making false accusations about them, their...
  • spotTo stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
  • speak ill ofTo vilify; to defame; to criticize.
  • stab figurativelyTo injure secretly or by malicious falsehood or slander.
  • stainTo taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation.
  • sullyTo corrupt or damage.
  • talk shit slang, vulgarTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • talk shite UK, slangTo talk badly about something.
  • talk trash US, slangTo untruthfully speak of another in a belittling, deprecative, slighting manner, either in person or in absentia.
  • tarnishTo compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
  • torch figurativelyTo make damaging claims about (someone or something); to ruin the reputation of (someone or something); to disparage...
  • traduceTo malign a person or entity by making malicious and false or defamatory statements.
  • trash-talk US, slangTo insult a rival in a disparaging way.
  • unflatterTo show or display in a bad light; to portray unfavorably.
  • vilifyTo say defamatory things about someone or something; to speak ill of.
  • villainizeTo represent as a villain.
  • wrongTo slander; to impute evil to unjustly.
  • belibel datedTo libel, slander, calumniate.
  • bewray archaicTo accuse; malign; speak evil of.
  • blame obsoleteTo bring into disrepute.
  • forgab obsoleteTo mock; deride; defame; publish the misdeeds of.
  • forspeak obsoleteTo say bad things about; to slander.
  • scandal obsoleteTo defame; to slander.
  • slander obsoleteTo utter a slanderous statement about; baselessly speak ill of; to wrong.
  • smirch archaic, figuratively
  • spatter figuratively, obsoleteTo injure by aspersion; to defame.
  • vilipend dated, formalTo express a disparaging opinion of; to slander or vilify.

verbTo treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.

  • hate onTo feel or act spitefully towards.
  • spiteTo treat maliciously; to try to hurt or thwart.

Opposite of malign

adjectiveMore antonyms

Meaning of malign

  1. adjective Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
  2. adjective Malevolent.
  3. adjective Malignant.

Full definition of malign

malign in other languages

Questions about synonyms of malign

What is another word for malign?
Malign has 69 synonyms on Word.ws, such as wrong, dirty, foul, libel, stain, sully, denigrate and disrepute.
What is the opposite of malign?
The opposite of malign is benign.
What does malign mean?
Malign means evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: malign (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of malign.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/malign. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.