I. adjective
1.
Synonyms: sinister , baleful, malefic, maleficent
Related Word: baneful, deleterious, detrimental, injurious, noxious, pernicious
Contrasted words: auspicious, favorable, propitious; fortunate, happy, lucky, providential
Antonyms: benign
2.
Synonyms: malicious , despiteful, evil, hateful, malevolent, malignant, rancorous, spiteful, vicious, wicked
Related Word: antagonistic, antipathetic, hostile, inimical
Contrasted words: benignant, kind, kindly
Antonyms: benign
II. verb
to speak evil of for the purpose of injuring and without regard for the truth
the candidates increasingly maligned each other as the campaign degenerated
Synonyms: asperse, befoul, bespatter, blacken, calumniate, defame, denigrate, libel, ||scandal, scandalize, slander, slur, smear, spatter, tear down, traduce, vilify, villainize
Related Word: decry, depreciate, derogate, detract, disparage; opprobriate, revile, vituperate; backbite, besmirch, defile, pollute, smirch, soil, stain, sully, taint, tarnish
Idioms: blow upon, cast aspersion(s) on ( or upon)
Contrasted words: acclaim, applaud, eulogize, extol, laud, praise; defend, justify, maintain, vindicate