Meaning
spiteful, malicious
- evil, impish, wicked
- malignant
In a sentence
Non essere maligno con tua sorella, dai.
Don't be spiteful with your sister, come on.
Perché fai quel sorriso maligno?
Why are you making that wicked smile?
Il medico ha detto che il tumore è maligno.
The doctor said the tumor is malignant.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| maligno | masculine · singular |
| maligna | feminine · singular |
| maligni | masculine · plural |
| maligne | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use maligno for a person's intent or expression; cattivo is broader and more everyday, especially for behavior, taste, or quality.
- In medicine, maligno commonly follows the noun: tumore maligno. Benigno is the standard opposite in this context.
- For a sarcastic or cutting remark, speakers often prefer maligno over cattivo: una battuta maligna sounds more pointed.