besmirch vs malign

besmirch is not an adjective while malign is an adjective.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
besmirch	No	No	Yes	No
malign	No	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, malign is a hyponym of besmirch; that is, malign is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than besmirch:

besmirch: charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone
malign: speak unfavorably about

Other hyponyms of besmirch include assassinate, libel, badmouth, drag through the mud, traduce.

besmirch (adjective)	malign (adjective)
	evil or harmful in nature or influence
	having or exerting a malignant influence

besmirch (verb)	malign (verb)
charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone	speak unfavorably about
smear so as to make dirty or stained