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.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the outlook for the coming weeks was "ominous".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

But what is most ominous is how little we know.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Yet the fact that major parts of the market saw their best months since the ominous years of 2020 and 2000 should tell investors we are not dealing with normal market conditions.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

That’s an ominous development for a Chinese navy that would need to transport and supply large forces across the Taiwan Strait to mount a successful invasion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

They didn't realize that pus was ominous evidence of a bacterial infection.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

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