Sinister
adjective
Something that looks or seems evil or harmful.
He had a sinister smile on his face.
Often appears as...
- sinister plot
- sinister figure
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Appearing to be likely to cause something bad, harmful, or dangerous.
She found her boss's request to work late very sinister.
Often appears as...
- sinister implications
- sinister indication
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
In heraldry, the left side of a shield from the bearer's standpoint.
The lion passant is located on the sinister side of the shield.
Often appears as...
- sinister side
- sinister position
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
adjective
Something that looks or seems evil or harmful.
He had a sinister smile on his face.
Often appears as...
- sinister plot
- sinister figure
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Appearing to be likely to cause something bad, harmful, or dangerous.
She found her boss's request to work late very sinister.
Often appears as...
- sinister implications
- sinister indication
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
In heraldry, the left side of a shield from the bearer's standpoint.
The lion passant is located on the sinister side of the shield.
Often appears as...
- sinister side
- sinister position
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Atmosphere
Use 'sinister' to describe settings or events with a dark, evil vibe.
The abandoned house had a sinister appearance.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evil
It implies a subtle, sometimes understated evil or maliciousness.
There was something sinister about his politeness.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspense in Stories
In literature or movies, 'sinister' often sets up suspense or hints at upcoming trouble.
The music turned sinister, signaling danger.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Atmosphere
Use 'sinister' to describe settings or events with a dark, evil vibe.
The abandoned house had a sinister appearance.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evil
It implies a subtle, sometimes understated evil or maliciousness.
There was something sinister about his politeness.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspense in Stories
In literature or movies, 'sinister' often sets up suspense or hints at upcoming trouble.
The music turned sinister, signaling danger.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Atmosphere
Use 'sinister' to describe settings or events with a dark, evil vibe.
The abandoned house had a sinister appearance.
Pro Tip 2/3Subtle Evil
It implies a subtle, sometimes understated evil or maliciousness.
There was something sinister about his politeness.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspense in Stories
In literature or movies, 'sinister' often sets up suspense or hints at upcoming trouble.
The music turned sinister, signaling danger.
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Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
and that it occasionally mirrored my own unexpressed emotion. So, for example, if I was angry and had to hide it, which I often did, being very adept at concealing how I really felt, then the voice would sound frustrated. Otherwise, it was neither sinister nor disturbing, although even at that point it was clear that it had something to communicate to me
Video examples
Tom Chatfield: 7 ways...
When someone is more likely to remember, we can give them a nugget in a window. And the second thing is confidence, that we can see how game-playing and reward structures make people braver, make them more willing to take risks, more willing to take on difficulty, harder to discourage. This can all seem very sinister.
Video examples
Peter Attia: What if...
In fact, what if it's a symptom of a much deeper problem, the tip of a proverbial iceberg? I know it sounds crazy because we're obviously in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but hear me out. What if obesity is a coping mechanism for a far more sinister problem going on
Video examples
The dark side of...
types of donations it's the kind of ascent in the sinister ones the ones where you're sending winter clothes to a tropical climate or you're sending tuxedos and wedding dresses to Haiti I mean that's corporate irresponsibility and that is one of the major issues and
Video examples
The Antarctic's...
with its quite sinister smile it's difficult to know what the reaction of the leopard seal is going to be until you're in the water with them i'm freddie devas and i've been making wildlife films for about 15 years now for the antarctica episode for seven
Video examples
Is the obesity crisis...
if it's a symptom of a much deeper problem the tip of a proverbial iceberg I know it sounds crazy because we're obviously in the midst of an obesity epidemic but hear me out what if obesity is a coping mechanism for a far more sinister problem going on
Video examples
Ed Yong: Suicidal wasps,...
so sinister and so compelling. We place such a premium on our free will and our independence that the prospect of losing those qualities to forces unseen informs many of our deepest societal fears. Orwellian dystopias and shadowy cabals
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
wolves has always appeared in folklore fable and even in modern literature and films misunderstanding breeds fear and fear can breed hatred European settlers brought an image of a savage deceitful sinister creature to the new world and
Video examples
Pamela Ronald: The case...
I study genes that make plants resistant to disease and tolerant of stress. In recent years, millions of people around the world have come to believe that there's something sinister about genetic modification.
Video examples
The Deadly Portuguese...
it's such a successful strategy the jellies are one of the most common life forms on the planet but among the jellies and looking somewhat like them is a rather more complex and sinister
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
and that it occasionally mirrored my own unexpressed emotion. So, for example, if I was angry and had to hide it, which I often did, being very adept at concealing how I really felt, then the voice would sound frustrated. Otherwise, it was neither sinister nor disturbing, although even at that point it was clear that it had something to communicate to me
Video examples
Tom Chatfield: 7 ways...
When someone is more likely to remember, we can give them a nugget in a window. And the second thing is confidence, that we can see how game-playing and reward structures make people braver, make them more willing to take risks, more willing to take on difficulty, harder to discourage. This can all seem very sinister.
Video examples
Peter Attia: What if...
In fact, what if it's a symptom of a much deeper problem, the tip of a proverbial iceberg? I know it sounds crazy because we're obviously in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but hear me out. What if obesity is a coping mechanism for a far more sinister problem going on
Video examples
The dark side of...
types of donations it's the kind of ascent in the sinister ones the ones where you're sending winter clothes to a tropical climate or you're sending tuxedos and wedding dresses to Haiti I mean that's corporate irresponsibility and that is one of the major issues and
Video examples
The Antarctic's...
with its quite sinister smile it's difficult to know what the reaction of the leopard seal is going to be until you're in the water with them i'm freddie devas and i've been making wildlife films for about 15 years now for the antarctica episode for seven
Video examples
Is the obesity crisis...
if it's a symptom of a much deeper problem the tip of a proverbial iceberg I know it sounds crazy because we're obviously in the midst of an obesity epidemic but hear me out what if obesity is a coping mechanism for a far more sinister problem going on
Video examples
Ed Yong: Suicidal wasps,...
so sinister and so compelling. We place such a premium on our free will and our independence that the prospect of losing those qualities to forces unseen informs many of our deepest societal fears. Orwellian dystopias and shadowy cabals
Video examples
Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The...
wolves has always appeared in folklore fable and even in modern literature and films misunderstanding breeds fear and fear can breed hatred European settlers brought an image of a savage deceitful sinister creature to the new world and
Video examples
Pamela Ronald: The case...
I study genes that make plants resistant to disease and tolerant of stress. In recent years, millions of people around the world have come to believe that there's something sinister about genetic modification.
Video examples
The Deadly Portuguese...
it's such a successful strategy the jellies are one of the most common life forms on the planet but among the jellies and looking somewhat like them is a rather more complex and sinister
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Gregg Popovich
American Coach
Sometimes, when life moves along, you're presented with situations where you find it necessary to speak because so many people either seem to be afraid to or, more sinister, are unwilling to face things and let things go and worry about their own situations.
Quote examples
D. H. Lawrence
English Writer
It is quite true, as some poets said, that the God who created man must have had a sinister sense of humor, creating him a reasonable being, yet forcing him to take this ridiculous posture, and driving him with blind craving for this ridiculous performance.
Quote examples
Robert Plant
British Musician
The trouble is now, with rock'n'roll and stuff, it gets so big that it loses what once upon a time was a magnificent thing, where it was special and quite elusive and occasionally a little sinister and it had its own world nobody could get in.
Quote examples
Jack Lowden
Scottish Actor
I don't take myself seriously in the slightest, so it does amaze me that I've ended up being in all these very dark, sinister plays. But I love it because, touch wood, I'm lucky enough not to have that level of darkness in my life.
Quote examples
Lisa Marie Presley
American Musician
People that were in my life for a long time turned sinister and tried to control me, and all kinds of weird stuff happened. But there was no conscience involved; that threw me more than anything.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
I like to be involved in politics. I like to be involved in government. I've been in politics all my life. I would like to remain in government. I don't think that's so sinister.
Quote examples
James Adomian
American Comedian
I've always wondered if, at some point, everything will snap, and it'll be like 'Alice in Wonderland,' where the delightfully mad people turn into sinister mad people.
Quote examples
Gina Miller
Guyanese Activist
Entering public life as a woman - be it as a politician, journalist, expert or activist - makes you the target of the most sinister threats, abuse and language.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.
Quote examples
MyAnna Buring
Swedish Actress
It's nothing sinister but my private life belongs to me.
Quote examples
Gregg Popovich
American Coach
Sometimes, when life moves along, you're presented with situations where you find it necessary to speak because so many people either seem to be afraid to or, more sinister, are unwilling to face things and let things go and worry about their own situations.
Quote examples
D. H. Lawrence
English Writer
It is quite true, as some poets said, that the God who created man must have had a sinister sense of humor, creating him a reasonable being, yet forcing him to take this ridiculous posture, and driving him with blind craving for this ridiculous performance.
Quote examples
Robert Plant
British Musician
The trouble is now, with rock'n'roll and stuff, it gets so big that it loses what once upon a time was a magnificent thing, where it was special and quite elusive and occasionally a little sinister and it had its own world nobody could get in.
Quote examples
Jack Lowden
Scottish Actor
I don't take myself seriously in the slightest, so it does amaze me that I've ended up being in all these very dark, sinister plays. But I love it because, touch wood, I'm lucky enough not to have that level of darkness in my life.
Quote examples
Lisa Marie Presley
American Musician
People that were in my life for a long time turned sinister and tried to control me, and all kinds of weird stuff happened. But there was no conscience involved; that threw me more than anything.
Quote examples
Robert Kennedy
American Politician
I like to be involved in politics. I like to be involved in government. I've been in politics all my life. I would like to remain in government. I don't think that's so sinister.
Quote examples
James Adomian
American Comedian
I've always wondered if, at some point, everything will snap, and it'll be like 'Alice in Wonderland,' where the delightfully mad people turn into sinister mad people.
Quote examples
Gina Miller
Guyanese Activist
Entering public life as a woman - be it as a politician, journalist, expert or activist - makes you the target of the most sinister threats, abuse and language.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.
Quote examples
MyAnna Buring
Swedish Actress
It's nothing sinister but my private life belongs to me.
Example 1 of 10
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