Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ominous differ from other similar words?

The words fateful and portentous are common synonyms of ominous. While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

Where would fateful be a reasonable alternative to ominous?

The words fateful and ominous can be used in similar contexts, but fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

When can portentous be used instead of ominous?

Although the words portentous and ominous have much in common, portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ominous As players from those forsaken seasons see what Belichick and his girlfriend are up to these days, many wonder whatever happened to that ominous Belichick mystique. Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 June 2025 On June 13, Cumming read the list of names in a very ominous TikTok video posted by Peacock. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 June 2025 Yet despite the ominous underpinning, people were determined to be festive, upbeat. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 Experts say the new developments could be ominous signs for the platforms, as their business has already suffered from the May closure of a small package tariff exemption in the U.S., as well as new duties at 54%, or $100 for those sent through the postal service. Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ominous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ominous
Adjective
  • Mitchell returned to the family’s Salt Lake City home months later with sinister intentions.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 8 June 2025
  • Picking from hundreds of hours of original, low-budget TV ads, Glassman tells the sinister tale of two restaurants battling it out in the town of Westridge County.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2025
  • Make that the second scariest, as Claire’s antics bring another menacing character into their lives, when her dealer, Jackie (Domhnall Gleeson), shows up at Echo Valley looking for 10 grand in heroin.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • The somewhat bleak outlook was laid bare Tuesday night after the USMNT was thrashed 4-0 by Switzerland during a friendly in Nashville.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 June 2025
  • Instead of learning from this bleak recent history, Americans are now painfully absorbing this lesson by repeating it.
    Jonathan Haskel, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ominous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ominous. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ominous

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