malign
/məˈlaɪn/
Group 7Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (verb)
- To speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner GRE
- (adjective)
- Evil in nature or effect; malevolent GRE
Example in Context
Political operatives sought to malign the candidate's reputation with a coordinated campaign of misleading social media posts.
Synonyms
bad-mouthslanderdefame
Etymology
To talk badly about someone — to speak ill of them.
- mal- (Latin) — bad
- lingere (Latin) — to talk
Memory Aid
📉Sounds like “my line”
A gossip saying 'MY LINE is better than yours' while spreading MALIGN rumors about you!
Visual Association
🗣️A shadowy figure whispering nasty secrets behind someone's back, illustrating the act of maligning.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “malign” mean on the GRE?
malign (verb) means “To speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner”. Political operatives sought to malign the candidate's reputation with a coordinated campaign of misleading social media posts.
How to remember “malign” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “malign” sounds like “my line”. A gossip saying 'MY LINE is better than yours' while spreading MALIGN rumors about you!
What are synonyms for “malign”?
Common synonyms: bad-mouth, slander, defame.