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

If you read about the economic fallout from the Iran war, you’ll encounter an ominous phrase: demand destruction.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Trump had given Iran a series of increasingly ominous warnings in the days since his return from a trip to China to meet President Xi Jinping.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

An ominous rumbling comes from behind the door, like a warning growl of thunder.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Vocabulary lists containing ominous

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know

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