adj.
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French maligner to act maliciously, from Late Latin malignari, from Latin malignus
Date: 15th century
: to utter injuriously misleading or false reports about : speak evil of
synonyms MALIGN , TRADUCE , ASPERSE , VILIFY , CALUMNIATE , DEFAME , SLANDER mean to injure by speaking ill of. MALIGN suggests specific and often subtle misrepresentation but may not always imply deliberate lying <the most maligned monarch in British history>. TRADUCE stresses the resulting ignominy and distress to the victim <so traduced the governor that he was driven from office>. ASPERSE implies continued attack on a reputation often by indirect or insinuated detraction <both candidates aspersed the other's motives>. VILIFY implies attempting to destroy a reputation by open and direct abuse <no criminal was more vilified in the press>. CALUMNIATE imputes malice to the speaker and falsity to the assertions <falsely calumniated as a traitor>. DEFAME stresses the actual loss of or injury to one's good name <sued them for defaming her reputation>. SLANDER stresses the suffering of the victim <town gossips slandered their good name>.