Malign

To malign means to speak about someone or something in a critical and hurtful way, often unfairly. It involves making damaging statements, spreading harmful rumors, or attempting to damage someone's reputation. It is typically a deliberate action with the intention to cause harm, either directly to the person or thing being maligned, or to the person doing the maligning by association. The term also relates to possessing a harmful or evil nature, a disposition to cause harm, or being highly injurious. The action is commonly based on ill-will, spite, or envy.

Malign meaning with examples

• The newspaper's editorial board launched a relentless campaign to malign the politician, publishing unsubstantiated accusations and selectively using information to paint him in a negative light. They aimed to sway public opinion before the upcoming election. Despite the lack of evidence, the constant barrage of negative press successfully damaged his credibility and popularity.
• During the court case, the defense attorney attempted to malign the character of the witness by bringing up unrelated incidents from his past. The goal was to discredit him in the eyes of the jury and make his testimony seem unreliable, hoping it would weaken the prosecution's case.
• The conspiracy theorist spent years online attempting to malign the scientific community. By spreading misinformation and baseless accusations, they sowed distrust in reputable institutions and eroded public confidence in evidence-based research, influencing public perception.
• After the company announced record profits, a disgruntled former employee tried to malign the CEO's reputation by leaking private emails and making false claims about the company's unethical business practices in an attempt to lower share prices.