Baleful Meaning in English
word
ˈbeɪɫfəɫ
BAYL-fuhl
bˈeɪlfəl
BAYL-fuhl
Definition
Describes something that seems threatening, harmful, or likely to cause harm. It can suggest danger, evil intentions, or a menacing appearance.
Usage & Nuances
'Baleful' is formal and literary; commonly used to describe looks, glances, or atmospheres. Often appears in stories, poetry, and dramatic descriptions. Do not use for small, ordinary threats—instead, use 'scary' or 'threatening.' Pronounced with stress on the first syllable: BAYL-ful.
Spanish: amenazante - siniestroPortuguese (BR): ameaçador - sinistroPortuguese (PT): ameaçador - sinistroChinese (Simplified): 威胁的 - 恶意的Chinese (Traditional): 威脅的 - 惡意的Hindi: अशुभ - डरावना - खतरनाकArabic: مشؤوم - مُهدِّدBengali: বিধ্বংসী - অশুভ - ভয়ংকরRussian: зловещий - угрожающийJapanese: 邪悪な - 不吉なVietnamese: đầy đe dọa - hiểm ácKorean: 음산한 - 해로운 - 불길한Turkish: uyağa korkunç - uğursuzUrdu: خطرناک - نحوست بھراIndonesian: membahayakan - suram - mengancam
Example Sentences
He gave me a baleful look before leaving the room.
basic
A baleful cloud covered the moon.
basic
The villain smiled with a baleful grin.
basic
There was a baleful silence after the bad news.
natural
She shot me a baleful glance that said it all.
natural
The old house had a baleful atmosphere at night.
natural