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benign
[ bih-nahyn ]
adjective
- Pathology. not malignant; self-limiting:
a benign brain tumor.
- having no harmful influence or effect:
ecologically benign and sustainable building materials.
- having a kindly disposition; gracious:
a benign king.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
- showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness:
a benign smile.
a series of benign omens and configurations in the heavens.
Antonyms:
- (of weather) pleasant or beneficial; salubrious; healthful.
benign
/ ɪˈԲɪ /
adjective
- showing kindliness; genial
- (of soil, climate, etc) mild; gentle
- favourable; propitious
- pathol (of a tumour, etc) not threatening to life or health; not malignant
benign
/ ĭ-ī′ /
- Not life-threatening or severe, and likely to respond to treatment, as a tumor that is not malignant.
- Compare malignant
benign
- A descriptive term for conditions that present no danger to life or well-being. Benign is the opposite of malignant .
Notes
Derived Forms
- ˈԾԱ, adverb
Other 51Թ Forms
- ·Ծ· adverb
- ···Ծ adjective
- ܲ··Ծ adjective
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of benign1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of benign1
Example Sentences
But let's be frank, they don't provide a benign backdrop conducive to predictable, steady economic growth.
The diagnosis was made after a separate issue of concern was noted during treatment for benign prostate enlargement, a Palace statement said when his illness was made public last year.
Sworn declarations filed in federal court Wednesday also protest the claims against some detainees, stating that benign tattoos were misconstrued as evidence of gang affiliation.
Though his “18 utterances” are plainly Judeo-Christian-Islamic goulash borrowing from the Ten Commandments and beyond, they seem largely benign.
Through the lens of harm reduction, a glass of wine seems benign, certainly less harmful than opiates.
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Related 51Թs
Benign Vs. Malignant
What’s the difference between benign and malignant?
In a medical context, the word benign is used to describe masses or tumors that are not cancerous—those that do not spread disease to other parts of the body. The word malignant is the opposite—it’s used to describe harmful masses or tumors that are cancerous and that grow and spread disease.
Both words are sometimes also used in general ways. Benign can mean kind, favorable, or gracious, while malignant can mean harmful or intended or intending to cause harm.
The best clue to help remember their meanings is the prefix mal-, which means “bad” and shows up in a lot of other negative words, such as malfunction, malpractice, malicious, and maleficent.
Here’s an example of benign and malignant used correctly in the same sentence.
Example: She was afraid the lump was a malignant tumor, but it turned out to be a benign cyst—totally harmless.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between benign and malignant.
Quiz yourself on benign vs. malignant!
Should benign or malignant be used in the following sentence?
I can assure you that my intentions are completely _____—I mean no harm.
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