maligner
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who speaks falsely and maliciously about another person, intending to damage their reputation. A maligner spreads harmful and often untrue statements (slander if spoken, libel if written).
Usage
The word "maligner" is used to label or describe a person whose characteristic behavior is to defame others. It is a formal term often found in legal, literary, or serious accusatory contexts. - The politician sued the tabloid, claiming it was a publication run by maligners. - In the novel, the hero's reputation was destroyed by a secret maligner.
Examples
- She refused to listen to the gossip, dismissing the source as a known maligner.
- The court recognized the statements as libel, and the defendant was judged a maligner.
- He was more than a critic; he was a maligner who sought to ruin careers.
Advanced Usage
- As a predicate nominative: The term can follow a linking verb to rename the subject.
- The anonymous source was revealed to be a bitter maligner.
- In contrast to "critic": A maligner is distinct from a fair critic. A critic evaluates, while a maligner intentionally and falsely attacks character.
- A fair critic discusses the work; a maligner attacks the person.
Variants and Related Words
- Malign (verb): To speak about someone in a spitefully critical and false manner.
- He accused his opponents of trying to malign his character.
- Maligning (gerund/noun): The act of defaming.
- The constant maligning in the press took a toll on her.
- Malignancy (noun): In medical contexts, this means a cancerous growth. In character contexts (less common), it can refer to the quality of being malignant, or deeply harmful.
- Malignant (adjective): Describing something or someone with a strong desire to harm others; in medicine, describing a severe, spreading tumor.
- He gave her a malignant glare. (showing intense ill will)
Synonyms
- Defamer: One who damages the good reputation of someone.
- Slanderer: One who makes false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation.
- Libeler: One who publishes a false written statement damaging to a person's reputation.
- Vilifier: One who speaks or writes abusively about someone.
- Traducer: One who misrepresents someone's character or reputation.
Antonyms
- Defender: One who supports or protects.
- Vindicator: One who clears someone of blame or suspicion.
- Praiser: One who expresses warm approval or admiration.
- Eulogist: One who praises highly, especially in a formal speech or writing.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Character assassination: The malicious and unjustified harming of a person's good reputation. A maligner engages in character assassination.
- The campaign devolved into a series of personal attacks and character assassination.
- Smear campaign: A plan to spread false and damaging accusations about a person or group. Maligners are often agents in a smear campaign.
Noun
- one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel