Definitions

ominous

[om-uh-nuhs] / ˈɒm ə nəs /

ADJECTIVE

menacing, foreboding

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apocalyptic dangerous dark dire dismal gloomy grim haunting perilous portentous prophetic sinister threatening

WEAK

augural baleful baneful clouded direful doomed doomful fateful fearful forbidding hostile ill-boding ill-fated impending inauspicious inhospitable lowering malefic malificent malign minatory precursive premonitory presaging prescient suggestive unfriendly unlucky unpromising unpropitious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright cheerful encouraging good happy hopeful joyful light nice pleasant safe secure sunny

WEAK

auspicious lucky promising propitious

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Meanwhile Vance, visiting Hungary, delivered an ominous warning to Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

History suggests that might be an ominous sign.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

With just 13 days until the start of the World Championship, the manner in which Zhao won this tournament sent an ominous warning to those with aspirations of dethroning him at the Crucible.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

As ominous as that sounds, Spur co-founder Riley Kilmer says that means I’m proxy-free.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

He was snatched and rushed aloft, sick with fear, into the ominous air.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

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The Giver

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