1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
a dark, baleful sky portending a tornado
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adverse
causing or capable of causing harm
contends that the violent content of so much of popular entertainment is a baleful influence on our society
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
a medicine that is beneficial in small doses but baleful in large
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of baleful
The baleful stare that was such a part of Foreman’s first act as a boxer and public personality was missing, replaced by a look of mischief.
—
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
But Donald Trump’s tariff attacks on Canada—and, even more, his insistence that the country should be incorporated as the fifty-first state—may halt this slow drift into the United States’ baleful orbit, at least for now.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
Women are thought of as contaminants in the heya and arm candy outside it; the sponsors exert a baleful commercial pressure on the fighters.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
According to this view, in spite of the baleful impact of the Jewish people as a whole, rare Jewish individuals could stand out.
—Gregory Fried, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2014
See All Example Sentences for baleful
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
But Donald Trump’s tariff attacks on Canada—and, even more, his insistence that the country should be incorporated as the fifty-first state—may halt this slow drift into the United States’ baleful orbit, at least for now.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
Women are thought of as contaminants in the heya and arm candy outside it; the sponsors exert a baleful commercial pressure on the fighters.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
According to this view, in spite of the baleful impact of the Jewish people as a whole, rare Jewish individuals could stand out.
—Gregory Fried, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2014
See All Example Sentences for baleful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baleful
Adjective
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Thoughts of all the beautiful, mundane, familiar things that make life so sweet had turned sour in my ominous fortune-telling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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The potential adverse consequences to entrepreneurs when well-being is disregarded are well-documented.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The most recent execution via firing squad in the United States occurred in South Carolina, where Brad Sigmon, 67, was executed in March, opting for the method instead of the electric chair or lethal injection.—
Amanda Castro
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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While officers in the garage tried to find Cook’s firearm before approaching him, Miller from outside the front of the house gave commands to other officers to retrieve a shield and a 40mm less-lethal projectile launcher, the reports showed.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Whatever, Dever quickly recanted her earlier precise testimony to the FBI about the sinister doings by those two dodgy cops behind Karen Read’s SUV.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Haunted Carwash was the sinister concoction of spooky enthusiasts Long Vo and Veronica Young of Huntington Beach.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This vaporized the harmful metals in the red mud, and left behind a purified compound rich in aluminum.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Sep. 2025
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No one has gotten sick, but lead can be harmful to young children’s development.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Last week's deadly shooting also heightens concerns of university safety protocols and security at public events.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The mid-air collision sent both aircraft hurtling into the Potomac River and left no survivors, becoming the deadliest airline crash in the country since 2001.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For instance, instead of the menacing roars popularized by Jurassic Park, the instruments often produce gentler conversation sounds, suggesting a social, communicative side to these animals.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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From there, the story is too exciting to reveal, except to say that someone presumed dead makes a menacing appearance.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Research is also abundant on the long-term detrimental impact of childhood trauma on a person’s mental and physical health through their adult life.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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It can be gone in the blink of an eye, so to spend it on people that aren’t fulfilling me and to spend it on work that isn’t fulfilling me, to spend it on anything that isn’t fulfilling, is detrimental to him.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baleful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baleful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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