as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
the movie relies too much on sinister background music to create the suspense that the plot sorely lacks
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Recent Examples of sinister
The three-minute video, complete with action movie shots and sinister music, is terrifying.
—
Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
When powered on, the TV reveals four children apparently trapped inside and held captive by sinister forces.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The new Rhino release amplifies the darkness, letting every sinister detail seethe to the surface.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, a third interpretation hints at a more sinister reason for the find’s unusual provenance.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sinister
Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
When powered on, the TV reveals four children apparently trapped inside and held captive by sinister forces.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
The new Rhino release amplifies the darkness, letting every sinister detail seethe to the surface.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, a third interpretation hints at a more sinister reason for the find’s unusual provenance.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sinister
Cite this Entry
“Sinister.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinister. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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