malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt 
1
: tending to produce death or deterioration
malignant malaria
2
a
: evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious
a powerful and malignant influence
b
: passionately and relentlessly malevolent : aggressively malicious
the malignant tongues of gossipers
c
obsolete
: malcontent, disaffected
malignantly
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of malignant in a Sentence
a highly malignant form of cancer
a powerful and malignant influence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her freshman year at USC was cut short in October 2023 after having emergency surgery to remove a large medulloblastoma — a type of malignant tumor — in her cerebellum.
—
Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Their administration has spent years appeasing Iran with sanctions relief and turning a blind eye to the malignant activity of the regime and its proxies.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024
Extending telomeres could inadvertently allow cells to bypass these safety mechanisms, leading to malignant transformations.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Nor for that matter is pathological liar, sociopath or malignant narcissist.
—Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant 
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Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
Their administration has spent years appeasing Iran with sanctions relief and turning a blind eye to the malignant activity of the regime and its proxies.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024
Extending telomeres could inadvertently allow cells to bypass these safety mechanisms, leading to malignant transformations.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
Nor for that matter is pathological liar, sociopath or malignant narcissist.
—Richard Behar, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant
Dictionary Entries Near malignant
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malignant. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt
1
: evil in influence or effect : injurious
3
: tending to produce death
malignant tumors
malignantly
adverb
Medical Definition
malignant
adjective
ma·lig·nant
mə-ˈlig-nənt
1
: tending to produce death or deterioration
malignant malaria
especially
: tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally
malignant tumors
compare benign sense 1
2
: of unfavorable prognosis : not responding favorably to treatment
psychotic reactions with a malignant trend
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