Learn a Word Daily — Baleful
Today’s word is "Baleful": Threatening harm; ominous.
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Word of the Day · January 2, 2026
Baleful
BAYL-ful · adjective
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Definition
Threatening harm; ominous.
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Origin & Etymology
From Old English balu (“harm, evil”) + -ful (“full of”).
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Nuance
Baleful describes something that feels actively menacing—like trouble is coming.
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Usage
“A baleful glare from the coach was enough to quiet the entire bench.”
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Fun Fact
In older English, bale could mean “misfortune” or “evil,” which is why baleful still sounds a bit gothic.
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