NSW Opportunity Class

Learn “Malign”

A free exam-vocabulary guide with a precise meaning, natural context and a memory connection that makes the word easier to retrieve.

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NSW Opportunity Class

Malign

verb/muh-LINE/

Meaning

speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.

In context

He was unfairly maligned in the press.

Remember it

Mal- means bad (malfunction, malaria) — to malign someone is to bad-mouth them.

Use it well

Formal; often passive — 'unfairly maligned'; use for spiteful, unjust criticism.