portending

ADJECTIVE

impending

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approaching brewing imminent looming

STRONG

coming gathering hovering menacing near nearing overhanging threatening

WEAK

at hand in the cards in the offing in the wind looking to ominous on the horizon proximate see it coming waiting to

Antonyms

STRONG

gone past

WEAK

distant later never remote

ADJECTIVE

minatory

Synonyms

WEAK

aggressive alarming apocalyptic at hand baleful baneful black bullying cautionary close comminatory dangerous dire fateful forthcoming grim ill-boding imminent impendent impending inauspicious intimidatory looming loury lowering lowery minacious near overhanging portentous scowling sinister terrorizing ugly unlucky unpropitious unsafe upcoming warning

ADJECTIVE

monitory

Synonyms

WEAK

admonishing admonitory advisory hinting warning wise

ADJECTIVE

oracular

Synonyms

WEAK

Delphian ambiguous anticipating apocalyptic arcane auguring auspicious authoritative cabalistic clairvoyant cryptic discovering divining divulging dogmatic fatidic foreboding forecasting foretelling imperious interpretive mantic mysterious mystical obscure occult ominous peremptory portentous positive predicting presaging prescient proclaiming prognosticating prophesying sage secret sibylline significant soothsaying vague vatic venerable wise

ADJECTIVE

predictive

Synonyms

WEAK

anticipating auguring conjecturing divining foreboding foretelling guessing presaging prognostic prognosticative surmising

ADJECTIVE

prognostic

Synonyms

STRONG

foreboding foretelling guessing

WEAK

anticipating auguring conjecturing divining presaging prognosticative surmising

ADJECTIVE

prognosticative

Synonyms

WEAK

anticipating auguring conjecturing divining foreboding foretelling guessing presaging prognostic surmising

ADJECTIVE

threatening

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggressive alarming cautionary dangerous dire sinister ugly

STRONG

bullying close impending looming lowering near overhanging scowling terrorizing warning

WEAK

apocalyptic at hand baleful baneful comminatory fateful forthcoming grim ill-boding imminent impendent inauspicious intimidatory loury lowery minacious minatory portentous unlucky unpropitious unsafe upcoming

Antonyms

STRONGEST

good kind nice safe

STRONG

away distant far remote

WEAK

pleasant

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.

Amid fading light, the delicate fledglings fluttered in a wind portending a storm.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Before they knew it, the sky turned dark, portending a storm.

From BBC • May 29, 2025

Cougars are our canaries in the coal mine, portending consequences of lost connectivity for all Southwest Washington.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2023

The dollar was heavy in Asia, and equities around most of the region declined, portending weakness when Europe wakes up as well.

From Reuters • May 22, 2023

This impression of fairy illusion and enchantment, which would speedily vanish, was enhanced by the sultry calm, portending an approaching thunder-storm, that brooded over the streets and squares and kept the inhabitants indoors.

From The Romance of the Canoness A Life-History by Heyse, Paul

portending

Example Sentences

Related Words