Malignant
adjective /məˈlɪɡ.nənt/ — Tending to spread and be dangerous; cancerous.
Definition
In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is cancerous — capable of spreading (metastasizing) to other parts of the body and potentially fatal. More broadly, evil or dangerous in nature.
Beyond the definition
Malignant is a word that changes the room it enters. Whatever was before — however certain, however settled — becomes provisional when the word arrives.
Origin & history
From Latin 'malignus' (evil-natured); from 'male' (badly) + 'gignere' (to beget). Evil-born. The opposite of 'benign' in both medical and moral senses.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The second opinion confirmed the first: malignant, invasive, and requiring immediate treatment.
Malignant narcissism is the clinical term for a personality pattern combining narcissism, antisocial behavior, and aggression.
There is something in the word 'malignant' that carries its etymology — evil-born, growing toward harm.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Malignant” when the meaning fits your context: In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is cancerous — capable of spreading (metastasizing) to other parts of the body and potentially fatal. More broadly, evil or dangerous in nature.
Synonyms
cancerous, metastatic, virulent, invasive
Antonyms
benign, non-cancerous, harmless
Related words
Malignant vs benign
Malignant describes harmful, invasive growth. Benign describes conditions that are non-cancerous and do not spread.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Encroaching Dangerous Maze
An adult stands before a complex, stone-walled maze with a dark guardian at the entrance.
The imposing, dangerous maze and dark guardian symbolize a threatening condition that has the potential to spread and overtake the surrounding space, representing the gravity and danger associated with a malignant pathology.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Malignant" mean?
Malignant is adjective meaning: Tending to spread and be dangerous; cancerous.. In medicine, describing a tumor or condition that is cancerous — capable of spreading (metastasizing) to other parts of the body and potentially fatal. More broadly, evil or dangerous in nature.
Where does the word "Malignant" come from?
From Latin 'malignus' (evil-natured); from 'male' (badly) + 'gignere' (to beget). Evil-born. The opposite of 'benign' in both medical and moral senses.