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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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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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
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
At another, this baleful ribbon emanates from the shell of a totaled BMW 325iS, the very model of car once associated in the region with gang terror — elsewhere shown cruising and spinning on dusty roads, like urban harbingers of doom amid rural tranquility.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
The effect is to rub our faces in the self-destructive horror of the heroine’s impulses and to shift that baleful sense of the erotic’s dark power from a disturbing subtext to a more sensationalized foreground.
—Jim Shepard, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
The company, Wave, is taking aim at AAT deficiency, marked by scarce or defective alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein that neutralizes baleful enzymes released by immune cells.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for baleful
Jesse Green, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2025
At another, this baleful ribbon emanates from the shell of a totaled BMW 325iS, the very model of car once associated in the region with gang terror — elsewhere shown cruising and spinning on dusty roads, like urban harbingers of doom amid rural tranquility.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2025
The effect is to rub our faces in the self-destructive horror of the heroine’s impulses and to shift that baleful sense of the erotic’s dark power from a disturbing subtext to a more sensationalized foreground.
—Jim Shepard, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
The company, Wave, is taking aim at AAT deficiency, marked by scarce or defective alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein that neutralizes baleful enzymes released by immune cells.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for baleful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baleful
Adjective
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The fall in the dollar and rise in bond yields that went with it have been truly ominous.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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So far, Lilly said the adverse effects of its new pill are consistent with GLP-1s, a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
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Given the choice of lethal injection, electrocution and firing squad, Weiss said Mahdi chose the lesser of three evils.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Thorne starred in the film as a young woman who discovers her father has been killed after returning to her small hometown, while Rourke, 72, starred as a sinister sheriff.—
Latoya Gayle,
People.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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As digitally dropped threats from an unknown predator grow increasingly sinister during the protagonist’s big date at a Chicago restaurant, the messages blast across the big screen in huge letters, or plaster an entire wall of the ladies’ restroom.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Shiny and minty, these balms provide a gloss-like effect while protecting your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2025
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The debate over the law centers on balancing accountability for harmful content with the risks of censorship and stifled innovation.—
Daryl Lim,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led to the deadly incident.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Oscar winner portrays a former president leading an investigation in the aftermath of a deadly national cyber attack.—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Until Henry momentarily excuses himself from the table, that is, and the person or persons behind these winky-wink messages tell her to poison Henry ASAP or the menacing guy currently hiding in her apartment will kill her boy.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Ivan Koloff Oreal Donald Perras, wrestling as Ivan Koloff, became synonymous with the menacing Soviet villain.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Archer: Not having a rink in L.A. has been really detrimental to the skating community.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
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Furthermore, the study highlights cultural contingencies, indicating that the detrimental effects of workplace aggression are amplified in cultures characterized by high individualism and masculinity.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Baleful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baleful. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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