Main Entry:

om·i·nous

Pronunciation:

\ˈä-mə-nəs\

Function:

adjective

Date:

1580

: being or exhibiting an omen : portentous ; especially : foreboding or foreshadowing evil : inauspicious

— om·i·nous·ly adverb

— om·i·nous·ness noun

synonyms ominous, portentous, fateful mean having a menacing or threatening aspect. ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster <ominous rumblings from the volcano>. portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity <an eerie and portentous stillness>. fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance <the fateful conference that led to war>.