Letters and spelling

Words that start with mal

This list suits students, writers, and puzzle fans who want to learn words built on mal, a prefix meaning bad, wrong, or poorly. It gathers common and less common mal- words so learners can see how the prefix consistently signals something negative.

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Words that start with mal

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
malicenoun	The intention or desire to cause harm, suffering, or injury to another person.	There was no malice behind the comment; he simply spoke without thinking.
malignantadjective	Extremely harmful or evil, or, in medicine, describing a tumor that is cancerous and can spread.	Doctors confirmed the tumor was malignant and recommended immediate treatment.
malfunctionnoun	A failure to work properly or as intended, especially referring to a machine or system.	A sudden malfunction in the engine forced the pilot to land early.
malnutritionnoun	A condition caused by not eating enough, or not eating a balanced enough diet, to stay healthy.	Malnutrition remains a serious problem in regions affected by famine.
malpracticenoun	Negligent or improper conduct by a professional, such as a doctor or lawyer, that causes harm to a client or patient.	The surgeon was sued for malpractice after leaving an instrument inside a patient.
maladynoun	An illness or disease, or more broadly, a problem or difficulty.	The old sailor suffered from a mysterious malady that no doctor could diagnose.
malcontentnoun	A person who is dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or their current situation.	A handful of malcontents in the office kept complaining about every new policy.
malevolentadjective	Having or showing a desire to cause harm to others.	The villain's malevolent smile slowly revealed his true dark intentions.
malformedadjective	Formed or shaped incorrectly or abnormally, whether physically or structurally.	The vet treated a bird born with a malformed wing.
malaisenoun	A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is hard to identify.	A vague malaise kept her in bed, though no fever ever appeared.
malodorousadjective	Having a strong, unpleasant smell that is noticeable and hard to ignore.	The malodorous swamp made hikers eager to move along quickly.
maladjustedadjective	Unable to adapt well to one's environment or social situation, often showing emotional or behavioral difficulties.	The counselor worked with maladjusted teens struggling to fit in at their new school.
malwarenoun	Software specifically designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.	Clicking the suspicious link installed malware that quietly stole her saved passwords.
malfeasancenoun	Wrongdoing, especially illegal or dishonest conduct by a public official or person in a position of trust.	The audit uncovered years of financial malfeasance by the city treasurer.
malapropismnoun	The mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an unintentionally funny result.	His malapropism, calling the event a 'catastrophe' when he meant 'catalyst,' made everyone laugh.
malignverb	To say harmful and often untrue things about someone, damaging their reputation.	The article was accused of maligning the charity without any solid evidence.
malefactornoun	A person who commits a crime or does something wrong or harmful.	The sheriff vowed to track down the malefactors who robbed the bank.
maliciousadjective	Intending or showing a desire to harm someone, often through deliberate and spiteful actions.	Someone spread malicious rumors about her just before the election.
malnourishedadjective	Suffering from poor health because of a lack of proper or sufficient nutrition.	Aid workers treated dozens of malnourished children after the drought.
malodornoun	A strong, highly unpleasant smell, especially one that lingers in the air.	A malodor from the drain suggested something was badly clogged.
malapportionedadjective	Divided unfairly or unequally, especially describing electoral districts with very uneven populations.	Critics argued the state's malapportioned districts gave rural voters disproportionate power.
malaproposadjective	Inappropriate or unsuitable for the particular time, place, or situation.	His malapropos joke at the funeral left the mourners stunned.
maltreatverb	To treat a person or animal cruelly or without proper care.	The charity investigated reports that the farm had maltreated its livestock for months.
malfeasantadjective	Guilty of wrongdoing or misconduct, especially in an official position of trust.	The report named several malfeasant officials who had accepted bribes.
malingerernoun	A person who pretends to be ill or exaggerates a condition to avoid work or duty.	The sergeant suspected the recruit was a malingerer trying to skip drills.

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix mal mean?

Mal comes from Latin for bad or wrong, so mal- words describe something that has gone badly, wrongly, or poorly, such as malfunction or malnutrition.