BALEFUL

baleful, forbidding, menacing, minacious, minatory, ominous, sinister, threatening

(adjective) 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”

baleful, baneful

(adjective) deadly or sinister; “the Florida eagles have a fierce baleful look”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

baleful (comparative more baleful, superlative most baleful)

Portending evil; ominous.

Miserable, wretched, distressed, suffering.

Source: Wiktionary

Bale"ful, a. Etym: [AS. bealoful. See Bale misery.]

1. Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. "Baleful enemies." Shak. Four infernal rivers that disgorge Into the burning lake their baleful streams. Milton.

2. Full of grief or sorrow; woeful; sad. [Archaic]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition