[Covenantor]

I hope you merely used malign unintentionally.

malign
[muh-lahyn]
verb (used with object)
1. to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame:
to malign an honorable man.

yes?

[lbryce]

There are several definitions, meanings in the manner of speaking regarding malign. The definition described below for malign indicates that maligning someone does not have to be specifically false.

adjective
1. evil in nature or effect; malevolent.
"she had a strong and malign influence"
synonyms:harmful, evil, bad, baleful, hostile, inimical, destructive, malignant, injurious; More
antonyms:beneficial
archaic
(of a disease) malignant.

verb
verb: malign; 3rd person present: maligns; past tense: maligned; past participle: maligned; gerund or present participle: maligning
1.speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner.
"don't you dare malign her in my presence"
synonyms:defame, slander, libel, blacken someone's name/character, smear, vilify, speak ill of, cast aspersions on, run down, traduce, denigrate, disparage, slur, abuse, revile;