baleful
/'beilful/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments: Expressing a sense of impending harm, misfortune, or disaster.
- Deadly or sinister: Having a menacing, malevolent, or harmful quality or appearance.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- She gave him a baleful glare that made him step back.
- The dark clouds gathering on the horizon had a baleful appearance.
- The old superstition spoke of the baleful influence of the cursed object.
Advanced Usage
- "Baleful influence": A harmful or corrupting effect.
- The dictator exerted a baleful influence over the entire region.
- "Baleful stare/glare/look": A look that is filled with menace or ill will.
- The guard fixed the intruder with a baleful stare.
Variants and Related Words
- Balefully (adverb): In a menacing or threatening manner.
- The dragon watched the knights balefully from its cave.
- Balefulness (noun): The quality or state of being baleful.
- The balefulness of the prophecy filled them with dread.
Synonyms
- Menacing: Suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.
- Sinister: Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.
- Ominous: Giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen; threateningly inauspicious.
- Malignant: Very virulent or infectious; (of a disease) very severe and harmful; having or showing a strong desire to harm someone.
Antonyms
- Benevolent: Well meaning and kindly.
- Benign: Gentle and kindly; (of a disease) not harmful in effect.
- Auspicious: Conducive to success; favorable.
Idioms and Phrases
- "Cast a baleful eye on": To look at someone or something with hostility or a sense of foreboding.
- The conservative elders cast a baleful eye on the new social reforms.
Adjective
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threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
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a baleful look
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forbidding thunderclouds
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his tone became menacing
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ominous rumblings of discontent
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sinister storm clouds
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a sinister smile
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his threatening behavior
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ugly black clouds
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the situation became ugly
-
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deadly or sinister
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the Florida eagles have a fierce baleful look
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