Sinister: meaning, definitions and examples

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sinister

 

[ ˈsɪnɪstər ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

suspicious behavior

giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen

Synonyms

evil, malevolent, ominous, wicked

Examples of usage

  • There was something sinister about his smile.
  • She had a sinister motive for helping him.
Context #2 | Adjective

left side

located on or towards the left side, especially when considered unlucky or evil

Synonyms

evil, inauspicious, left, unlucky

Examples of usage

  • The sinister figure in the painting seemed to follow you with its eyes.
  • He felt a chill as he walked down the sinister alleyway.

Translations

Translations of the word "sinister" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sinistro

🇮🇳 अमंगल

🇩🇪 unheimlich

🇮🇩 menyeramkan

🇺🇦 зловісний

🇵🇱 złowrogi

🇯🇵 不気味な

🇫🇷 sinistre

🇪🇸 sinistro

🇹🇷 uğursuz

🇰🇷 불길한

🇸🇦 مشؤوم

🇨🇿 zlověstný

🇸🇰 zlovestný

🇨🇳 不祥的

🇸🇮 zlovešč

🇮🇸 óheillavænlegur

🇰🇿 зұлым

🇬🇪 მავნე

🇦🇿 uğursuz

🇲🇽 sinistro

Word origin

The word 'sinister' originated from the Latin word 'sinister', which originally meant 'on the left side' or 'unlucky'. In ancient Rome, the left side was often associated with bad omens, and this association carried over into English where 'sinister' came to mean evil or threatening. Over time, the word has evolved to also encompass the sense of something mysterious or foreboding.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,231, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.