First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
sinister
adjective sin·is·ter \ˈsi-nəs-tər, archaic sə-ˈnis-\
: having an evil appearance : looking likely to cause something bad, harmful, or dangerous to happen
Full Definition of SINISTER
1
archaic : unfavorable, unlucky
2
archaic : fraudulent
3
: singularly evil or productive of evil
4
a : of, relating to, or situated to the left or on the left side of something; especially : being or relating to the side of a heraldic shield at the left of the person bearing it b : of ill omen by reason of being on the left
5
: presaging ill fortune or trouble
6
: accompanied by or leading to disaster
— sin·is·ter·ly adverb
— sin·is·ter·ness noun
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Origin of SINISTER
Middle English sinistre, from Anglo-French senestre on the left, from Latin sinistr-, sinister on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious
Related to SINISTER
- Synonyms
- baleful, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, ill, ill-boding, inauspicious, menacing, minatory, portentous, ominous, threatening
- Antonyms
- unthreatening
Synonym Discussion of SINISTER
sinister, baleful, malign mean seriously threatening evil or disaster. sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer <a sinister aura haunts the place>. baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly <exerting a corrupt and baleful influence>. malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful <the malign effects of racism>.
SINISTER Defined for Kids
sinister
adjective sin·is·ter \ˈsi-nəs-tər\
Definition of SINISTER for Kids
1
: threatening evil, harm, or danger <We heard sinister rumors.>
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