sinister

Meanings

• adjective

  Giving an uncanny feeling; foreboding; ominous.

  - "The old mansion had a sinister atmosphere."
  - "The sinister figure in the shadows beckoned to the children."

• adjective

  Characterized by or exhibiting malevolence, ill will, or evil intent.

  - "The sinister plot was finally uncovered."
  - "The sinister villain was defeated by the hero."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75858021"
2. /ˈsɪnɪstɚ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1157725"

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Antonyms

dexter , dexter

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with sinister
myster , lethargy , revery , hysterical , terrier , quitter

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Variants

List of all variants of sinister that leads to same result
sinister , sinisterly , sinisterness , sinisternesses , bar sinister , bar sinisters , bars sinister , bend sinister , bend sinisters

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French sinistre, from Latin sinister, left, from sinistra, left. The sense development is from 'left' to 'unlucky' to 'omen' to 'ominous' to 'malevolent'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'sinister' comes from the Latin word 'sinister', which means 'left'.

2. In medieval Europe, the left hand was considered sinister, or unlucky, because it was not the hand used for most daily tasks.

3. The term 'sinister conspiracy' refers to a secret plan or plot, often with malevolent intentions.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. ominous: Related concept that describes something that is foreboding or ominous, often indicating danger or trouble.

2. malevolent: Related concept that describes something or someone that is harmful or evil, often with a deliberate intent to cause harm.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature and art, the sinister often refers to something ominous or foreboding. It is often associated with the supernatural or the unknown. In popular culture, the sinister is often portrayed as a villain or an ominous presence. For example, in the novel 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the moor is described as a sinister place, filled with supernatural occurrences and danger.

How to Memorize "sinister"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a dark, foreboding mansion with creaking doors and cobwebs hanging from the ceilings.
   - Visualize a villain with a twisted smile and a wicked laugh.
   - Imagine a stormy night with lightning flashing and thunder rumbling in the distance.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'sinister' with the feeling of unease or fear.
   - Associate the word 'sinister' with the image of a villain or a dark, ominous presence.
   - Associate the word 'sinister' with the supernatural or the unknown.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember the 'S' in sinister stands for 'scary' or 'spooky'
   - Remember the word 'sinister' by associating it with the word 'ominous'
   - Create a mnemonic phrase that helps you remember the definition of 'sinister'.

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The best and recommended way to memorize sinister is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

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