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.

Ominous headlines and abrupt u-turns about trade wars and actual wars make executives more cautious too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

More: Ominous ‘Hindenburg Omen’ spotted in U.S. stock market.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

Ominous clouds gathered on Wall Street this week—and may have passed just as quickly.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Ominous vultures warned us of what was ahead and the soundtrack turned foreboding.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2024

That this particular Ominous Landscape featured the terrifying figure of a wolf, yellow eyed and with fangs that dripped blood, was one more disturbing mystery to add to the pile.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

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The Giver

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