mal
Latinbad, ill, wrong
About This Root
From Latin malus (bad, evil). A prefix root that colors whatever it attaches to with negativity: malice (bad intent), malignant (bad growth), malady (bad condition, illness), malaise (bad ease, discomfort), malfeasance (bad doing), malaria (bad air — the old theory of disease), and maladroit (bad at handling, clumsy).
Associated Words · 12
malaria
A mosquito-borne disease causing recurring fever and chills
malignant
Harmful and dangerous; (of a tumour) life-threatening and uncontrolled
malicious
Intending to harm others; motivated by spite or ill will
malice
The desire to harm others; deliberate ill will
malaise
A vague feeling of physical or mental discomfort and unease
malady
A disease or persistent illness; a social or moral disorder
malignancy
A cancerous growth; the quality of being malignant
malfeasance
Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official
malapropism
Mistaken use of a word confused with a similar-sounding one
maladroit
Clumsy, lacking skill or tact
maleficent
Causing harm or evil
much-maligned
Widely and often unfairly criticized