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

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

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

After a brief opening prelude, the second track, “Prophecy at 1420 MHz,” has an ominous guitar riff, thudding percussion and a pitched-down voice talking about God and run through what could be a Vocoder.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Meanwhile, no date for the files' release has been set, and the statement from the Federal Intelligence Service about "conditions and requirements" sounds ominous to Wettstein.

From BBC • May 15, 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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