adjective

malignant

muh-LIHG-nuhnt

adjective

Harmful or hostile in intent; wishing ill on others.

"He spread malignant rumours about his former business partner."

"There was a malignant look in her eyes as she watched him fail."

Medically: likely to spread and become life-threatening, as with a tumour.

"The biopsy confirmed the growth was malignant."

"Doctors caught the malignant cells before they could spread further."

How to Use Malignant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDangerously harmful — either a person acting with real ill will, or a disease (especially cancer) that is aggressive and spreading.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "benign," which is its opposite in the medical sense (harmless, not spreading).

Easily confused with

benign → malignancy

Common pairings

malignant tumour malignant cells malignant intent

more malignant comparative, malignants plural, most malignant superlative

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He spread _____ rumours about his former business partner.

From Middle French malignant, ultimately from Late Latin malignans — related to "malign."

poignant indignant