The root mal
mal means bad, ill. It comes from Latin malus.
11 words built on mal
- Maladroitadjective
not adroit
- Maladynoun
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
- Malaisenoun
physical discomfort (as mild sickness or depression)
- Malapropismnoun
the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
- Malcontentnoun
a person who is discontented or disgusted
- Maledictionnoun
the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult)
- Malevolentadjective
wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred
- Malfeasancenoun
wrongful conduct by a public official
- Maliciousadjective
having the nature of or resulting from malice; ; - Rudyard Kipling
- Malignadjective
having or exerting a malignant influence
- Malingerverb
avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill