Baleful and baneful are alike in meaning as well as appearance, and they are sometimes used in quite similar contexts—but they usually differ in emphasis. Baleful typically describes what threatens or …

BALEFUL definition: full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious. See examples of baleful used in a sentence.

1. Portending evil; ominous: The guard's baleful glare frightened the children. 2. Harmful or malignant in intent or effect: a baleful influence.

Failure to understand that gives rise to very baleful consequences and often grave injustice.

6 days ago · Adjective baleful (comparative more baleful, superlative most baleful) Portending evil; ominous. Synonyms: foreboding, portentous; see also Thesaurus: ominous

Definition of baleful adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Baleful definition: Harmful or malignant in intent or effect.

Factsheet What does the adjective baleful mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective baleful. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Baleful means the foreshadowing of tragic or evil events. If no one's listening in class and your teacher reprimands you with a baleful glance, expect a pop quiz.

For displaced people on the street, the language of the hostile environment has had a baleful and chilling effect.