sinister

American  

[sin-uh-ster] / ˈsɪn ə stər /

adjective

1. threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous.

   a sinister remark.

   Synonyms:

   portentous , inauspicious

   Antonyms:

   benign

2. bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell.

   his sinister purposes.

3. unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable.

   a sinister accident.

   Synonyms:

   unlucky

   Antonyms:

   favorable

4. of or on the left side; left.

5. Heraldry.  noting the side of an escutcheon or achievement of arms that is to the left of the bearer (dexter ).

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sinister British  

/ ˈsɪnɪstə /

adjective

1. threatening or suggesting evil or harm; ominous

   a sinister glance

2. evil or treacherous, esp in a mysterious way

3. (usually postpositive) heraldry of, on, or starting from the left side from the bearer's point of view and therefore on the spectator's right

4. archaic  located on the left side

5. archaic  (of signs, omens, etc) unfavourable

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Other Word Forms

• sinisterly adverb
• sinisterness noun
• unsinister adjective
• unsinisterly adverb
• unsinisterness noun

Etymology

Origin of sinister

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin: “on the left hand or side,” hence, “unfavorable, injurious”

Example Sentences

But Stuckey’s sinister genius was in using her gender to make these tired gambits seem fresh and modern.

From Salon

If Summers’ “sacrosanct rule” was meant to sound sinister a decade ago, it carries considerably darker resonance today.

From Salon

But when seen from different angles, the area becomes shadowy and sinister.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The malicious and malign intent is really sinister," the officer said.

From BBC

Indyke’s lawyer said there was “nothing remotely sinister in the use of such entities” and there was no effort to hide that Epstein owned them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dire
• evil
• malevolent
• mischievous
• ominous
• perverse
• threatening