Baleful | A More Literary SAT Word
"She looked at me with BALEFUL eyes." Doesn't sound that bad, does it? Well, it is bad!
I’m pretty sure I first encountered this word in a Stephen Kind novel, maybe The Stand, when I was still young. I thought it meant sad, but I looked it up, and it’s more like evil, menacing, threatening.
Fun fact: I checked the etymology, and no, it’s not related to the type of bale that hay is bundled into.
📚️ Definition of Baleful
Baleful (adjective): Threatening harm or expressing menace; ominous or sinister. Often used to describe looks or influences that seem to predict or bring about evil or misfortune. Example: a baleful stare.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Baleful
IPA: /ˈbeɪl.fəl/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: BAYL-fuhl
📰 Examples of Baleful
Here are some examples of the word baleful:
The demon looked at me with a baleful stare. Thank goodness I woke up.
What I thought was a baleful look was actually just Amy suppressing a sneeze.
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