The difference between Dark and Sinister

When used as adjectives, dark means extinguished, whereas sinister means inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister).

Dark is also noun with the meaning: a complete or (more often) partial absence of light.

check bellow for the other definitions of Dark and Sinister

  1. Dark as an adjective (of a source of [[light]]):

    Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light. Extinguished. Deprived of sight; blind.

    Examples:

    "The room was too dark for reading."

    "'Dark signals should be treated as all-way stop signs."

  2. Dark as an adjective (of colour):

    Dull or deeper in hue; not bright or light.

    Examples:

    "my sister's hair is darker than mine;  her skin grew dark with a suntan"

  3. Dark as an adjective (betting, of race horses):

    Hidden, secret, obscure. Not clear to the understanding; not easily through; obscure; mysterious; hidden. Having racing capability not widely known.

  4. Dark as an adjective:

    Without moral or spiritual light; sinister, malign.

    Examples:

    "a dark villain;  a dark deed"

  5. Dark as an adjective:

    Conducive to hopelessness; depressing or bleak.

    Examples:

    "the Great Depression was a dark time;  the film was a dark psychological thriller"

  6. Dark as an adjective:

    Lacking progress in science or the arts; said of a time period.

  7. Dark as an adjective:

    With emphasis placed on the unpleasant aspects of life; said of a work of fiction, a work of nonfiction presented in narrative form or a portion of either.

    Examples:

    "The ending of this book is rather dark."

  1. Dark as a noun:

    A complete or (more often) partial absence of light.

    Examples:

    "'Dark surrounds us completely."

  2. Dark as a noun (uncountable):

    Ignorance.

    Examples:

    "We kept him in the dark."

    "The lawyer was left in the dark as to why the jury was dismissed."

  3. Dark as a noun (uncountable):

    Nightfall.

    Examples:

    "It was after dark before we got to playing baseball."

  4. Dark as a noun:

    A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, etc.

  1. Sinister as an adjective:

    Inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister).

  2. Sinister as an adjective:

    Evil or seemingly evil; indicating lurking danger or harm.

    Examples:

    "sinister influences"

    "the sinister atmosphere of the crypt"

  3. Sinister as an adjective:

    Of the left side.

  4. Sinister as an adjective (heraldry):

    On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer.

  5. Sinister as an adjective (obsolete):

    Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest.

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