baleful

1 of 2

adjective (1)

bale·​ful ˈbāl-fəl 

1

: deadly or pernicious in influence

baleful effects

2

: foreboding or threatening evil

gave him a baleful look

balefully

ˈbāl-fə-lē 

adverb

balefulness

ˈbāl-fəl-nəs 

noun

baneful

2 of 2

adjective (2)

bane·​ful ˈbān-fəl 

1

: productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful

a baneful influence

2

archaic : poisonous

banefully

ˈbān-fə-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

The bale of baleful comes from Old English bealu ("evil"), and the bane of the similar-looking baneful comes from Old English bana ("slayer" or "murderer"). 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 portends evil (e.g., "a baleful look," "baleful predictions"). Baneful applies typically to what causes evil or destruction (e.g., "a baneful secret," "the baneful bite of the serpent"). Both words are used to modify terms like influence, effect, and result, and in such uses there is little that distinguishes them.

Synonyms of baleful

Adjective (1)

• ominous
• sinister
• menacing

Adjective (2)

• harmful
• adverse
• detrimental
• dangerous
• damaging
• bad

Choose the Right Synonym for baleful

Adjective (1)

sinister, baleful, malign mean seriously threatening evil or disaster.

sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer.

a sinister aura haunts the place

baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly.

exerting a corrupt and baleful influence

malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful.

the malign effects of racism

Adjective (2)

pernicious, baneful, noxious, deleterious, detrimental mean exceedingly harmful.

pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

Examples of baleful in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

the baleful effects of water pollution

a dark, baleful sky portending a tornado

Adjective (2)

The legislation could have a baneful effect on the poor.

the baneful consequences of war

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

John Glynn Explores the Similarities Between Soap Operas and Medieval Epics Down the street, my coffee shop’s windows glowed with the baleful warmth of an Edward Hopper painting. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Together, the three bodies form a kind of cosmic triangle, with the baleful light of the red giant star Betelgeuse at its heart. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Adjective

The baneful effects of war on public speech and freedoms in Russia have been well recorded. —Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2022

The impact these soldiers had on the South was baneful. —New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English balefull "(of humans or animals) bent upon mischief or destruction, malevolent, (of things) pernicious," also "wretched, miserable," going back to Old English bealluful "full of evil, sinful," from bealu bale entry 1 + -ful -ful entry 1

Adjective (2)

bane entry 1 + -ful entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

baleful

adjective

bale·​ful ˈbāl-fəl 

1

: deadly or harmful in influence

2

: threatening harm or evil

a baleful look

balefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

balefulness noun