sinister

adjective

ˈsi-nə-stər How to pronounce sinister (audio)
Definition of sinisternext
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come the movie relies too much on sinister background music to create the suspense that the plot sorely lacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word sinister different from other adjectives like it?

The words baleful and malign are common synonyms of sinister. While all three words 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

When is it sensible to use baleful instead of sinister?

The synonyms baleful and sinister are sometimes interchangeable, but baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly.

exerting a corrupt and baleful influence

When would malign be a good substitute for sinister?

The words malign and sinister are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful.

the malign effects of racism

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sinister There's nothing like a great mystery about an unknown sinister force to really grab your interest and pull you in. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something much more sinister. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 July 2026 Nevertheless, Lowe represented the Fabians as a deeply sinister fifth column because their logo was once a wolf in sheep’s clothing. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026 The filmed Hadestown sees the Tony-winning De Shields, 80, in all his glory as the tragedy’s narrator Hermes, plus Page, 64, as the sinister Hades and Gray, 45, as the flighty Persephone. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sinister
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinister
  1. ominous
  2. menacing
Adjective
  • Once there, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watch as the butterfly approaches the outstretched hand of a woman whose face is obscured, before the ominous presence crushes it in her hands.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
  • These fears, while unfounded, were indicative of something much worse—and marked a new, ominous chapter in the whale’s evolving symbolic import.
    — Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • The man, now identified as Andrew Truelove, 41, was quickly taken into custody and charged with felony burglary as a hate crime and felony menacing as a hate crime, according to a Manhattan District Attorney's complaint obtained by USA TODAY.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, things look very quiet for at least the next week or 10 days, and there is no evidence of a bunch of menacing tropical waves starting to emerge off the coast of Africa.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of menacing

Phrases Containing sinister

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singularly
sinister
sink
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Cite this Entry

“Sinister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinister. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sinister

Nglish: Translation of sinister for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sinister

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