Definitions and Meaning in English:
- Malignant (adjective): Refers to something that is very dangerous or harmful. In medical contexts, it is most commonly used to describe a disease, especially cancer, that tends to spread rapidly and has the potential to be life-threatening.
- It can also describe someone who is cruel, malevolent, or evil in nature.
History and Origin: The word malignant originates from the Latin malignus, meaning “disposed to cause harm.” It entered the English language around the 14th century. In medical terminology, it began to be used to describe diseases like tumors or cancers in the 17th century. The term has evolved to primarily denote conditions or behaviors that are dangerous, deadly, or intentionally harmful.
Detailed Explanation: The term malignant is most commonly used in the medical context to describe diseases, such as cancer, where the condition grows uncontrollably and may spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor, for instance, is characterized by cells that divide rapidly and aggressively, often invading surrounding tissues or spreading to distant sites (metastasizing). In non-medical contexts, malignant can describe someone or something that is dangerous, harmful, or cruel, reflecting a sense of extreme and intentional harm.
Example Sentences:
- The doctor explained that the tumor was malignant and needed immediate treatment.
- If left untreated, the disease can become malignant and spread throughout the body.
- The villain in the story had a malignant desire to see others suffer.
- He had a malignant reputation for exploiting those weaker than himself.
- The diagnosis confirmed that the growth was indeed malignant.
- Some online misinformation can be considered as a malignant force, spreading falsehoods deliberately.
- She was wary of the stranger’s malignant smile, sensing danger behind it.
- In extreme cases, the virus can become malignant and difficult to control.
- The malignant nature of his behavior was evident in his repeated acts of cruelty.
Synonyms with Short Explanation:
- Cancerous – Describes cells that are harmful or tend to spread, especially in medical contexts.
- Deadly – Likely to result in death; closely related to the sense of malignant in medical terms.
- Malevolent – Describes someone or something that is harmful or evil in nature, similar in sense to malignant.
- Dangerous – Something that has the potential to cause harm, like malignant conditions.
- Vicious – Often used to describe something intentionally cruel, dangerous, or harmful.
Related Words with Short Explanation:
- Benign – Opposite of malignant, typically used to describe non-cancerous tumors or conditions that are not harmful.
- Tumor – A swelling or abnormal growth of tissue that may be benign or malignant.
- Metastasize – To spread, particularly used in relation to malignant conditions like cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
- Oncologist – A specialist doctor who diagnoses and treats cancer and other malignant conditions.
- Carcinogenic – Capable of causing cancer, closely related to malignant in discussing dangerous conditions.
More Matches with Short Explanation:
- Evil – Generally used to describe someone or something malevolent, related to malignant in the sense of harm.
- Harmful – Capable of causing injury, damage, or pain, closely connected to the meaning of malignant.
- Destructive – Tending to destroy or be damaging, akin to something that is malignant in nature.
- Threatening – Having a menacing or dangerous quality, like something malignant.
- Cruel – Showing unkindness or great harm, used in the context of malignant behavior.
Antonyms:
- Benign – Opposite of malignant; used for non-threatening or non-cancerous conditions.
- Harmless – Not dangerous or threatening; opposite of malignant.
- Kind – Opposite of someone or something that is malicious or dangerous, similar in sense to non-malignant.
- Gentle – Opposite of something that is severe or harmful; closely related to benign and non-malignant contexts.
- Safe – Not dangerous or harmful; the opposite of malignant.