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.

Prosecutors said one of the phones had a 15-minute timer ready to start, while another displayed an ominous message from an unknown number — “we will be awaiting your call.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

“I was fundamentally distrustful of pretty much everyone who was reaching out,” said Parsons, who assumed that Hollywood producers didn’t understand the subcultural fascination with ominous “liminal spaces.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Another ominous parallel comes from the top of the internet bubble in March 2000.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

It sounds ominous, but does it signal something new?

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Neither member of the Adams team could ever comprehend this historical transition as anything other than an ominous symptom of moral degeneration.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

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The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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The Giver

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