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, 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

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 because the ominous earnings revisions and stock price trends that typically precede market weakness are not in place, Raich said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Certainly not the one you have in mind: bandaged dead guy, ominous hieroglyphics, maybe Brendan Fraser.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Up to now he had encountered and retired progressively more ominous manifestations of Baty.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

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