malign (maligns 3rd person present) (maligning present participle) (maligned past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you malign someone, you say unpleasant and untrue things about them.
FORMAL We maligned him dreadfully when you come to think of it... V n
2 adj If something is malign, it causes harm.
FORMAL ADJ n
(=harmful) (Antonym: benign)
...the malign influence jealousy had on their lives...