Menacing vs. Sinister — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Menacing and Sinister
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Compare with Definitions
Menacing
Menacing or brandishing is a criminal offense in many U.S. states generally defined as displaying a weapon with the intent of placing another person in fear of imminent physical injury or death. Depending on state, degrees of offense range from a misdemeanor for first-time offenders, to low- to mid-level felonies for offenders with a prior menacing charge.
Sinister
Suggesting or threatening harm or evil
A sinister smile.
Menacing
A possible danger; a threat
A careless driver who was a menace to public safety.
Sinister
Causing or intending harm or evil; wicked
A sinister conspiracy.
Menacing
The quality of being threatening
A hint of menace in his voice.
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Sinister
Portending misfortune or disaster; ominous
Sinister storm clouds.
Menacing
A troublesome or annoying person
Considered her little brother to be a menace.
Sinister
Attended by or causing misfortune or disaster
"The day has passed without any sinister accident" (John Quincy Adams).
Menacing
To constitute a threat to; endanger
Rome was menaced by invading armies.
Sinister
(Archaic) On the left side; left.
Menacing
Synonym of threateningin its various senses.
Sinister
(Heraldry) Situated on or being the side of a shield on the wearer's left and the observer's right.
Menacing
Present participle of menace
Sinister
Inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister).
Menacing
The act of making menaces or threats.
Sinister
Evil or seemingly evil; indicating lurking danger or harm.
Sinister influences
The sinister atmosphere of the crypt
Menacing
Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments;
A baleful look
Forbidding thunderclouds
His tone became menacing
Ominous rumblings of discontent
Sinister storm clouds
A sinister smile
His threatening behavior
Ugly black clouds
The situation became ugly
Sinister
(archaic) Of the left side.
Sinister
(heraldry) On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer.
Sinister
(obsolete) Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest.
Sinister
On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; - opposed to dexter, or right.
My mother's bloodRuns on the dexter cheek, and this sinisterBounds in my father's
Sinister
Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; - the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences.
All the several ills that visit earth,Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth.
Sinister
Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims.
Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts.
He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts.
He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself.
Sinister
Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance.
Sinister
Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments;
A baleful look
Forbidding thunderclouds
His tone became menacing
Ominous rumblings of discontent
Sinister storm clouds
A sinister smile
His threatening behavior
Ugly black clouds
The situation became ugly
Sinister
Stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable;
Black deeds
A black lie
His black heart has concocted yet another black deed
Darth Vader of the dark side
A dark purpose
Dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility
The scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him
Sinister
On or starting from the wearer's left;
Bar sinister
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