sinister

[ sin-uh-ster ]

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 ).

sinister

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsinisterness, noun
• ˈsinisterly, adverb

Other Words From

• sinis·ter·ly adverb
• sinis·ter·ness noun
• un·sinis·ter adjective
• un·sinis·ter·ly adverb
• un·sinis·ter·ness noun

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”

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

Example Sentences

Quarterback Brady Smigiel, usually the calm, cool, helpful teenager, was conniving to do something sinister.

From Los Angeles Times

Patel has often railed against the so-called “deep state”, which some Americans believe is an unelected bureaucratic machine that secretly runs the country for sinister purposes.

From BBC

There’s something about the well-educated British accent that can seem, to American ears, both soothing and slightly sinister.

From Los Angeles Times

With imprisoned Feathers possessing alarmingly honed hacking skills, however, sinister doings will soon be afoot.

From Los Angeles Times

But the “digital arrest” scam stands out as especially elaborate and sinister - meticulously planned, relentless, and invasive to every part of a victim's life.

From BBC

Related Words

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