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sinister

adjective

sin·​is·​ter ˈsi-nə-stər How to pronounce sinister (audio)
 archaic  sə-ˈni-
1
: singularly evil or productive of evil
2
: accompanied by or leading to disaster
3
: presaging ill fortune or trouble
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
archaic : unfavorable, unlucky
6
archaic : fraudulent
sinisterly adverb
sinisterness noun

Did you know?

insidious, sinister, or pernicious?

Few would choose to be associated with people or things that are insidious, sinister, or pernicious; all three of these words have decidedly unpleasant meanings, each with its own particular shade of nastiness.

Insidious comes from a Latin word for “ambush” (insidiae), which is fitting, as this word often carries the meanings “deceitful,” “stealthy,” or “harmful in an imperceptible fashion.” The first two meanings may be applied to people or things (“an insidious enemy,” “an insidious plot”), while the last is usually applied to things (“insidious problems,” “insidious sexism”), in particular to the gradual progress of a disease (“an insidious malignancy”).

Sinister comes from a Latin word meaning “on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious.” Although it is commonly used today in the sense “evil” (“a sinister cult leader”; “a sinister plot”), it may also suggest an ominous foreshadowing of some unfavorable turn of events (“a sinister omen”).

Pernicious has largely stayed true to its etymological root, the Latin noun pernicies “ruin, destruction.” Its original meaning in English, “highly injurious or destructive,” usually applies to things (“pernicious apathy,” “pernicious effects”) and medical conditions (“pernicious fever,” “pernicious anemia”). When applied to people, pernicious means “wicked.”

Did you know?

Is sinister unfair to the left-handed?

Sinister has an etymology that might seem a bit biased against the left-handed portion of the population, as this word, which has had naught but disagreeable meanings for over five hundred years now, comes from a Latin word of the same spelling that means “on the left side.” We find this root in other English words, such as the adjective sinistral (“left-handed”) and the adverb sinistrad (“toward the left side”).To make things even more unfair, the Latin word dexter (“on the right side”) has given rise to English words with largely positive meanings, such as dexterity and ambidextrous.

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Example Sentences

There was something sinister about him. the movie relies too much on sinister background music to create the suspense that the plot sorely lacks
Recent Examples on the Web This sinister phrase ignited a blaze among the populace. Ben Okri, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 Cowell then insisted that Styles would never commit such a sinister act. Justine Browning, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2022 An escape attempt leads to a riot which in turn unleashes a sinister force. Patrick Frater, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 Even stories about ghostly hauntings, sinister parallel universes or grisly murders could feel mournful, sensitive and cathartic in Straub's hands. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 The bounty in my fridge suddenly took on a sinister quality. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 7 Sep. 2022 Another sinister reality that we have so far been spared? Elyssa Koren, National Review, 3 Sep. 2022 There was nothing necessarily sinister about Kelly or his workers dealing in cash, another defense witness, former Kelly studio intern Tom Arnold, told jurors. Michael Tarm, ajc, 1 Sep. 2022 Also consider Ari Aster's Midsommar, a horror movie that takes place in the idyllic setting of a Swedish commune, and still, something seriously sinister lurks around the corner. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sinistre, from Anglo-French senestre on the left, from Latin sinistr-, sinister on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sinister was in the 15th century

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