Ominous

/ˈɒmɪnəs/ · adjective

Meaning

Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
2. Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen

Example Sentences

In Cornouaille, Brittany, it is popularly believed that the weather of the last six days of December and the first six of January prognosticates the weather of the twelve months; but in other parts of Brittany it is the first twelve days of January that are supposed to be ominous of the weather for the year.

California poll support for Jerry Brown's tax increases has ominous implications for U.S. taxpayers too Los Angeles Times Headline April 25, 2011

The idea of a merchant selling both totems of pure evil and frozen yogurt (he calls it frogurt!) is amusing in itself, as is the idea that frogurt could be cursed, but it’s really the Shopkeeper’s quicksilver shift from ominous doomsaying to chipper salesmanship that sells the sequence.

After growing substantially in the 1990s and modestly in the 2000s, the total number of American kids fell from 2010 through 2019, an ominous milestone.

Synonyms for ominous

Antonyms for ominous

Related Words

Word Forms

• more ominous
• most ominous

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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