malignant cultural definition

A descriptive term for things or conditions that threaten life or well-being. Malignant is the opposite of benign.

• The term malignant is used in describing cancerous tumors (see cancer) because such growths are a threat to the health of the individual.
• The term is often used in a general way to denote something that is both destructive and fast growing: “The malignant growth of the suburbs is destroying the landscape.”