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View synonyms for

sinister

[ sin-uh-ster ]

adjective

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

    a sinister remark.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

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

    his sinister purposes.

  3. unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable:

    a sinister accident.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

  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 ).


sinister

/ ˈɪɪə /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԾٱԱ, noun
  • ˈԾٱ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • i·ٱ· adverb
  • i·ٱ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·i·ٱ adjective
  • un·i·ٱ· adverb
  • un·i·ٱ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sinister1

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

Origin of sinister1

C15: from Latin sinister on the left-hand side, considered by Roman augurs to be the unlucky one
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He agrees to help Patty find her mother, but sinister things are happening in Hawkins.

From

Below California’s famed beaches, mountains and metropolitan areas lies a sinister web of earthquake faults — some so infamous that their names are burned into the state’s collective consciousness.

From

"I think this series has slightly more edge to it in terms of the crimes, I wouldn't go so far as to say sinister but the motives behind them are slightly darker," she said.

From

There's a sinister and probably accidental genius of this say-one-thing-do-another messaging strategy.

From

Those dudes are trying to play the sinister “ugly American” roles, although with a singular lack of suavity and not much success.

From

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Siningsinistral