adjective

sinister

sinister, evil, ominous, menacing

He had a sinister look on his face.

He had a sinister look on his face.

There was a sinister motive behind his offer.

There was a sinister motive behind his offer.

((a sinister + noun)) a sinister plan

Synonyms: menacing, ominous, evil; Antonyms: benevolent, auspicious

From Latin 'sinister' meaning 'left, on the left side'. In ancient times, the left side was associated with bad omens.

Think of a villain in a movie, often shown with a 'sinister' smile. The 'sin' in sinister can remind you of evil.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.