Sinister (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments; "a baleful look"; "forbidding thunderclouds"; "his tone became menacing"; "ominous rumblings of discontent"; "sinister storm clouds"; "a sinister smile"; "his threatening behavior"; "ugly black clouds"; "the situation became ugly".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The old mansion had a sinister aura that made visitors feel uneasy.
- Her sinister smile sent chills down the spines of everyone in the room.
- The dark and torrential rain that poured down from the sinister storm clouds only added to the gloom of the funeral.
- As the sinister clouds gathered, the birds flew away, as if sensing the impending doom.
- The villain's sinister laugh echoed through the deserted alley, sending shivers down the heroine's spine.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable; "black deeds"; "a black lie"; "his black heart has concocted yet another black deed"; "Darth Vader of the dark side"; "a dark purpose"; "dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility"; "the scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him"-Thomas Hardy.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The villain's sinister laughter echoed through the abandoned asylum, striking fear into the hearts of all who heard it.
- His sinister grin seemed to suggest that he had been planning this heist for years, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
- The government's sinister motives for spying on its citizens were finally exposed in a shocking report.
- As she walked home alone at night, she couldn't shake the feeling that sinister eyes were watching her from the shadows.
- The dictator's sinister regime was responsible for the suffering and oppression of an entire nation, leaving a legacy of hatred and mistrust.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
On or starting from the wearer's left; "bar sinister".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The family crest featured a bar sinister, indicating a history of illegitimacy.
- In heraldry, a bend sinister running from top left to bottom right often symbolizes dishonor or bastardy.
- To distinguish the coat of arms, a baton sinister was added to the original design.
- The symbol of the bar sinister on the coat of arms signified that the wearer was not the firstborn child.
- A bend sinister usually indicated that the bearer was born out of wedlock or was otherwise illegitimate.