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

What had started as a friendly conversation over Facebook between performers had turned sinister almost overnight.

From BBC

In their joint statement, the NGOs said that demolitions in Makoko, and other settlements last year, were part of a "sinister agenda to grab land".

From BBC

This is not, for the most part, a sinister enterprise.

From Salon

They’re quite sinister and would certainly frighten off ghosts or thieves.

From Literature

But the court heard she did not think it was anything sinister.

From BBC

Related Words

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