This is the 4948th most frequent French word.
sinistre
"Sinistre" in English means "ominous" or "disastrous."
In this sentence, 'sinistre' is used as an adjective to describe an ominous or threatening attribute of the building.
Le bâtiment abandonné avait une atmosphère sinistre.
The abandoned building had a sinister atmosphere.
Here, 'sinistre' is employed as a noun to refer to a disastrous or damaging event, commonly an accident or a calamity.
Après le sinistre, les habitants se sont organisés pour reconstruire.
After the disaster, the residents organized themselves to rebuild.
In this context, 'sinistre' is used as an adjective describing a person's smile, conveying a sense of being eerie or unsettling.