balefully
1
8.2
- adverb
- /ˈbeɪl.fəl.i/
- Formal
:
amenazadoramente
- Something ghastly appears outside, all teeth and claws, and peers balefully at him through the window.
- stared balefully
- glared balefully
- eyes balefully
Examples
-
Todd glanced down at Mr. Claws, who was glaring balefully up at them both, no doubt impatient for his pressed chicken.
Fiction book (1995) -
Lewis flung himself back against his chair and glared at me balefully.
Fiction book (2002) -
The remaining three stopped short, then came balefully forward, step by step.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Your guy?" Sage looked at him balefully.
Fiction book (2001) -
Magically, my father immediately appears and stares balefully at me.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Don't feel too bad," Oswald said to the other workers, eyeing him balefully.
Fiction book (1999) -
To the right of the scribbled sign, in the restored darkness of the lab, an unexpected red light glowed balefully.
Fiction book (2002) -
Death was almost on top of him now, the serpent hissing balefully through the dust and heat, the scythe glinting.
Fiction book (1993) -
The Martian stopped, regarded Klondike Pete balefully, and tossed the body of a dead second husky a pace toward him.
Fiction book (1996) -
The cat stared balefully at the empty bowl, waiting for food.
Synonyms
10
7.1
In a way that wants to hurt someone or cause trouble
6
6.3
In a way that seems likely to hurt or scare someone
3
5.5
In a way that shows you might hurt or scare someone
1
8.6
In a way that shows a wish to hurt others
1
8.9
In a very dishonest or illegal way
1
8.1
Shows that a place or person is dangerous and not welcoming
In a mean and harmful way
In a way that seems evil or threatening
In a way that causes great harm
Antonyms
How Threatening
- Formal
1
8.6
- Formal
1
8.2
6
6.3
3
5.5
12
6.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
balefully = baleful (semi-transparent) = bale + ful + ly
The adverb is formed regularly by adding the productive suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'baleful', a predictable process for learners.
Etymology
The word balefully comes from the old word bale meaning 'harm' or 'evil' and the ending -ful meaning 'full of'. So to act balefully is to act 'full of harm' or 'threatening', which explains why it describes a dangerous or angry look or tone.