baleful

adjective

bale·ful ˈbāl-fəl How to pronounce baleful (audio)

: deadly or pernicious in influence

baleful effects

: foreboding or threatening evil

gave him a baleful look

balefully

ˈbāl-fə-lē How to pronounce baleful (audio)

adverb

balefulness

ˈbāl-fəl-nəs How to pronounce baleful (audio)

noun

Did you know?

The bale of baleful comes from Old English bealu ("evil"), and the bane of the similar-looking baneful comes from Old English bana ("slayer" or "murderer"). Baleful and baneful are alike in meaning as well as appearance, and they are sometimes used in quite similar contexts—but they usually differ in emphasis. Baleful typically describes what threatens or portends evil (e.g., "a baleful look," "baleful predictions"). Baneful applies typically to what causes evil or destruction (e.g., "a baneful secret," "the baneful bite of the serpent"). Both words are used to modify terms like influence, effect, and result, and in such uses there is little that distinguishes them.

Example Sentences

the baleful effects of water pollution a dark, baleful sky portending a tornado

Recent Examples on the Web As the vengeful Queen Margaret, who rains curses and florid predictions of doom upon her enemies, Sharon Washington has a baleful majesty.

Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 11 July 2022 But looking back over five decades, Mr. Barone thinks Watergate was a historical watershed and had a baleful influence on politics and journalism that still bedevils us today.

Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 10 June 2022 Most people know Muna for their hook-laden, vibe-inducing electro-pop singles — so when the trio dropped a baleful country song earlier this week, fans were certainly shocked.

Stephen Daw, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2022 With his invasion of Ukraine floundering and his economy teetering, Putin doubled down Wednesday — turning his baleful glare on Russians who are against the invasion or who sympathize with the West.

NBC News, 17 Mar. 2022 Saint Russia would stand against this baleful homogenization.

New York Times, 26 Mar. 2022 This baleful development has led to a flourishing cybersecurity industry.

Larry Light, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2022 Durham’s probe is a righteous effort to get to the bottom of a matter that deranged American politics for two solid years, though it has been derided or ignored by the corporate press, with baleful consequences.

Rich Lowry, National Review, 15 Feb. 2022 The minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, even wrote to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei complaining of the show’s baleful influence.

Omid Khazani And Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2021 See More

单词	balefully
释义	baleful adjective bale·ful ˈbāl-fəl 1 : deadly or pernicious in influence baleful effects 2 : foreboding or threatening evil gave him a baleful look balefully ˈbāl-fə-lē adverb balefulness ˈbāl-fəl-nəs noun Did you know? The bale of baleful comes from Old English bealu ("evil"), and the bane of the similar-looking baneful comes from Old English bana ("slayer" or "murderer"). Baleful and baneful are alike in meaning as well as appearance, and they are sometimes used in quite similar contexts—but they usually differ in emphasis. Baleful typically describes what threatens or portends evil (e.g., "a baleful look," "baleful predictions"). Baneful applies typically to what causes evil or destruction (e.g., "a baneful secret," "the baneful bite of the serpent"). Both words are used to modify terms like influence, effect, and result, and in such uses there is little that distinguishes them. Synonyms dire direful doomy foreboding ill ill-boding inauspicious menacing minatory ominous portentous sinister threatening See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the baleful effects of water pollution a dark, baleful sky portending a tornado Recent Examples on the Web As the vengeful Queen Margaret, who rains curses and florid predictions of doom upon her enemies, Sharon Washington has a baleful majesty. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 11 July 2022 But looking back over five decades, Mr. Barone thinks Watergate was a historical watershed and had a baleful influence on politics and journalism that still bedevils us today. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 10 June 2022 Most people know Muna for their hook-laden, vibe-inducing electro-pop singles — so when the trio dropped a baleful country song earlier this week, fans were certainly shocked. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2022 With his invasion of Ukraine floundering and his economy teetering, Putin doubled down Wednesday — turning his baleful glare on Russians who are against the invasion or who sympathize with the West. NBC News, 17 Mar. 2022 Saint Russia would stand against this baleful homogenization. New York Times, 26 Mar. 2022 This baleful development has led to a flourishing cybersecurity industry. Larry Light, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2022 Durham’s probe is a righteous effort to get to the bottom of a matter that deranged American politics for two solid years, though it has been derided or ignored by the corporate press, with baleful consequences. Rich Lowry, National Review, 15 Feb. 2022 The minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, even wrote to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei complaining of the show’s baleful influence. Omid Khazani And Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English balefull "(of humans or animals) bent upon mischief or destruction, malevolent, (of things) pernicious," also "wretched, miserable," going back to Old English bealluful "full of evil, sinful," from bealu bale entry 1 + -ful -ful entry 1 First Known Use before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 balefully adverb as in resentfully Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance resentfully enviously unfeelingly pitilessly bitterly mercilessly cruelly heartlessly caustically soullessly callously disagreeably ruthlessly venomously jealously unkindly ungraciously hostilely invidiously disdainfully vindictively inhumanely scornfully rancorously felly vituperatively contemptuously antagonistically caddishly malevolently obnoxiously acrimoniously kindlessly spitefully evil-mindedly malignantly insensitively nastily hatefully hard-heartedly viciously cattily villainously fiendishly diabolically wickedly bitchily maliciously envyingly virulently despitefully ill deprecatingly thoughtlessly inconsiderately ill-naturedly meanly misanthropically Antonyms & Near Antonyms benevolently kindly amiably benignantly genially affably agreeably cordially pleasantly graciously thoughtfully nicely solicitously lovingly soulfully feelingly sympathetically kindheartedly considerately altruistically humanely good-humoredly good-naturedly mercifully gently sensitively sweetly good-heartedly tenderly compassionately angelically divinely softheartedly See More
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baleful

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adverb