baleful

American  

[beyl-fuhl] / ˈbeɪl fəl /

adjective

1. full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious.

   Synonyms:

   deadly, wicked, evil, detrimental, injurious, malign, harmful

2. Obsolete. wretched; miserable.

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baleful British  

/ ˈbeɪlfʊl /

adjective

1. harmful, menacing, or vindictive

2. archaic dejected

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Other Word Forms

• balefully adverb
• balefulness noun

Etymology

Origin of baleful

before 1000; Middle English; Old English bealofull. See bale ², -ful

Example Sentences

There’s plenty of blame to go around for these baleful developments.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Icke’s expansion of the cast of characters does not really enrich the elemental drama, but it hardly needs to, given the baleful nature of the narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal

Aside from the challenge this style represents to the rule of law and ordered liberty, it can have baleful political consequences too.

From The Wall Street Journal

The details of Knight's upbringing were not disclosed in court, but Judge Richardson described them as "baleful".

From BBC

They will all trace back to Wednesday, back to Dublin, back to the Europa League final, and they will all take exactly the same, baleful form: What if?

From New York Times