sinister

/ˈsɪnɪstə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪnɪstər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsi-nə-stər archaic sə-ˈni-/ (ame, mw)

sinister — adjective

  • sinisterpositive
  • more sinistercomparative
  • most sinistersuperlative

1. giving you an uneasy feeling that something bad, dangerous, or evil is nearby or

1.形容詞B2
釋義

giving you an uneasy feeling that something bad, dangerous, or evil is nearby or about to happen

例句

A sinister figure in a black coat waited at the end of the dark alley.

attributive: sinister + figure / person

The old factory had a sinister look that kept the local children away.

同義詞
  • ominous

    stronger focus on warning signs and predictions of future trouble; less about personal threat

  • menacing

    more directly threatening; suggests intention to harm

  • threatening

    broader and more general; can describe both people and situations

  • creepy

    informal; describes an unpleasant feeling of fear without a clear reason

反義詞
  • benign

    kind and gentle; the opposite of threatening

  • innocent

    not intended to cause harm; neutral in intention

文法句型

sinister + noun

something + sinister

用法筆記

Frequently used attributively before a noun (a sinister laugh), but also natural in predicative position after verbs like be, seem, or look (the silence seemed sinister). Common in mystery, horror, and thriller contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He gave me a sinister look because he was angry.
✅He gave me a sinister look that made me feel unsafe.
💡Sinister implies the person seems evil or threatening, not just feeling a negative emotion.