What does baleful mean?
Word: Baleful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Baleful means unfriendly in a threatening way, full of ill will. It is a formal word used mostly about looks, glares and stares.
Synonyms: threatening, malevolent
Antonyms: friendly, kindly, warm
How do you spell baleful?
Syllables: bale - ful
Tricky part: The ending has only one l. The word full has two, so pupils often carry both into the ending and write balefull.
Watch out for: balefull, balefool
Memory tip: Hopeful, careful, baleful: every adjective built with this ending keeps just one l, however full of feeling it is.
Baleful in a sentence
Example 1: The tortoise gave us a baleful glare when we moved its lettuce leaf.
Example 2: Grey clouds hung over the valley with a baleful look that kept the walkers indoors.
Example 3: Felix laughed at the baleful stare his sister gave him when he ate the last biscuit.
Fun Fact
Baleful is used most often with eyes, looks, glares and stares, so a baleful glance is the phrase you are most likely to meet in a novel.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
b_l_ful
a) o, e
b) a, i
c) a, e
d) e, a
Show answer
c) a, e. Say it like the bale of hay a farmer stacks: a short word with a and a silent final e.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. baleful 2. jovial 3. sulky 4. cantankerus
a) looking unfriendly and full of ill will
b) silent and cross because you did not get your way
c) cheerful and friendly
d) bad-tempered and always ready to complain
Show answer
d) bad-tempered and always ready to complain. Cantankerous is the misspelt word here: it needs an o before the final us.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word baleful as used in the sentence:
The goalkeeper shot a baleful glance at the referee after the free kick was given.
a) menacing
b) hostile
c) sullen
d) amiable
Show answer
d) amiable. Hostile, sullen and menacing all carry the same bad feeling; an amiable glance is warm and good-natured.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a hungry seagull gives Felix a baleful look while he eats his chips, it seems ____.
a) shy and nervous
b) grateful and happy
c) cross and unfriendly
d) sleepy and calm
Show answer
c) cross and unfriendly
2. When the teacher gave the chattering class a baleful look, the pupils most likely ____.
a) began to chat even louder
b) fell quiet straight away
c) asked for a longer break
d) clapped and cheered her
Show answer
b) fell quiet straight away
