Synonyms for ominous
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Threatening — specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen
threatening, foreboding, menacing, sinister, portentous, baleful, alarming, prophetic, dire, intimidating, forbidding, oracular, disastrous, fatal, ill-starred, star-crossed, ill-fated, boding, ill-boding, unpropitious, minatory, premonitory
2. Fateful — of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant
fateful, significant, momentous, meaningful, omenic rare
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
- adj. 2
Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen
California poll support for Jerry Brown's tax increases has ominous implications for U.S. taxpayers too Los Angeles Times Headline April 25, 2011
Example sentences
- threatening Tom's injuries aren't considered life-threatening.
- sinister Gustavo's tone and mannerisms were really sinister.
- menacing The tide rushed into the estuary at a menacing pace.
- foreboding Despite her foreboding, Mary entered the cellar.
- momentous James tweeted that the signing was a momentous occasion.
- fateful I wish I had never taken that fateful boat ride.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| ominous | rising | |
| threatening | rising | |
| sinister | rising | |
| menacing | rising | |
| foreboding | rising | |
| momentous | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- ill1
- 4 letters
- dire1
- 5 letters
- fatal2
- 6 letters
- boding, omenic
- 7 letters
- fateful2, baleful2
- 8 letters
- sinister3, alarming3, menacing3, oracular, minatory
- 9 letters
- prophetic3, momentous3
- 10 letters
- meaningful3, disastrous3, forbidding3, foreboding3, portentous3
- 11 letters
- significant4, threatening3, premonitory5
- 12 letters
- intimidating5, unpropitious
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fatal2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- menaçant
- Italiano
- minaccioso
- Español
- amenazante