Definition Definition

sinister - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'sinister' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Sinister [ a.]
- On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter, or right.
- Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; -- the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences.
- Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims.
- Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance.

Meaning of 'sinister' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . sinister [ s]
Meaning (1):
- threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example in sentence:
  • a baleful look;
  • a sinister smile;
  • forbidding thunderclouds;
  • his threatening behavior;
  • his tone became menacing;
  • ominous rumblings of discontent;
  • sinister storm clouds;
  • the situation became ugly;
  • ugly black clouds
Meaning (2):
- stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable
Example in sentence:
  • a black lie;
  • a dark purpose;
  • black deeds;
  • dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility;
  • Darth Vader of the dark side;
  • his black heart has concocted yet another black deed;
  • the scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him
Meaning (3):
- on or starting from the wearer's left
Example in sentence:
  • bar sinister