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malignant

 - 6 dictionary results

ma⋅lig⋅nant

  [muh-lig-nuhnt]
Use malignant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred.
2. very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect.
3. Pathology.
a. tending to produce death, as bubonic plague.
b. (of a tumor) characterized by uncontrolled growth; cancerous, invasive, or metastatic.
Origin:
1535–45; < LL malignant- (s. of malignāns), prp. of malignāre to act maliciously. See malign, -ant

Related forms:
ma⋅lig⋅nant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. spiteful, malevolent. 2. perilous, hurtful, pernicious.

Antonyms:
1–3. benign.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To malignant
ma·lig·nant   (mə-lĭg'nənt)   
adj.  

  1. Showing great malevolence; disposed to do evil.

  2. Highly injurious; pernicious.

  3. Pathology

    1. Threatening to life; virulent: a malignant disease.

    2. Tending to metastasize; cancerous. Used of a tumor.

ma·lig'nant·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

malignant

A descriptive term for things or conditions that threaten life or well-being. Malignant is the opposite of benign.

Note: The term malignant is used in describing cancerous tumors (see cancer) because such growths are a threat to the health of the individual.
Note: The term is often used in a general way to denote something that is both destructive and fast growing: “The malignant growth of the suburbs is destroying the landscape.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

malignant 
1568, in ref. to diseases, from L. malignans, prp. of malignere (see malign (adj.)). Earlier in the church malignant "followers of the antichrist," from L. ecclesiam malignantum in early Church writing, applied by Protestant writers to the Church in Rome (1542).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ma·lig·nant
Pronunciation: m&-'lig-n&nt
Function: adjective
1 : tending to produce death or deterioration<malignant malaria>; especially : tending to infiltrate, metastasize, and terminate fatally <malignant tumors> —compare BENIGN 1
2 : of unfavorable prognosis : not responding favorably to treatment malignant trend>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

malignant ma·lig·nant (mə-lĭg'nənt)
adj.

  1. Threatening to life, as a disease; virulent.

  2. Tending to metastasize; cancerous. Used of a tumor.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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