as in to loom
to be about to happen
for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending
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Recent Examples of impend
During an eclipse, people would bang drums, shoot arrows, or create loud noises to scare the dragon away, as a red moon was seen as a sign of impending misfortune or celestial imbalance.
—
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both starters in 2025, are impending free agents, and both players could have robust markets.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
The cats’ impending eviction turned them into campus celebrities, into what some saw as victims of an inflexible university bureaucracy.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles could put together a package around those three picks, perhaps a sign-and-trade involving impending unrestricted free agent Austin Reeves and other players.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impend
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both starters in 2025, are impending free agents, and both players could have robust markets.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
The cats’ impending eviction turned them into campus celebrities, into what some saw as victims of an inflexible university bureaucracy.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles could put together a package around those three picks, perhaps a sign-and-trade involving impending unrestricted free agent Austin Reeves and other players.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impend
Verb
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But looming over the multi-day event was also speculation about a different election — the 2028 presidential contest.—
Gabe Kaminsky,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Because the outcome of events is often determined by human actors, those privy to certain plans – say, a looming ceasefire deal – would have access to information not available to the public and could profit handsomely off that information.—
Parker Bach,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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United Kingdom Big changes are brewing in the United Kingdom as part of a major overhaul of the country’s immigration system backed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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The battle in Bensonhurst has been brewing for years.—
Jennifer Bisram,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impend. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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