What does less-benign mean?

"Less benign" means not as harmless or favorable. It implies a situation or condition that is potentially harmful or dangerous, although perhaps not as severe as something truly malignant.

Here's a breakdown:

* Benign: Means harmless, kind, or gentle. A benign tumor, for example, is non-cancerous.

* Less Benign: Indicates a shift away from harmlessness. It might be something that is mildly harmful, irritating, or potentially problematic.

Examples:

* "The new policy, while not overtly harmful, is less benign than the previous one." This implies the policy is causing some inconvenience or potential issues, even if it's not a major disaster.

* "The doctor found a less benign growth in the patient's lung." This suggests the growth may be suspicious, but not necessarily cancerous.

In short, "less benign" is a way of describing something that is not as safe or positive as it could be.