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

And with a baleful glance at the big brown hat, she picked up the little fur one and started after Betsie round the stairs down to breakfast.

From Literature

I can picture all of this: three generations of laughing Theos, downing mugs of coffee and biscuits, storming out garrulously into the dawn, wearing wool hunting hats and surrounded by baleful golden retrievers.

From Literature

But it would be a mistake to think that Duesberg’s baleful influence on medical science will end with his death.

From Los Angeles Times

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