as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
some economists see a looming collapse of the stock market
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brewing
to be about to happen
he tried to take a proactive approach to dealing with the problems that loomed ahead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of looming
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
There’s the constantly looming threat of the sophomore slump, and the old saw that the artist has had their entire life to write the first album and barely a spare minute to write the second.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
An onslaught of legal battles and a looming referendum could still decide whether the gerrymandered map will be in place for the 2026 election.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Amid the increasingly damning reports on the rising threat of America’s runaway deficits and debt, the looming disaster that could upend the lifestyle of tens of millions of elderly Americans is getting scant attention.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
With just more than two weeks left in the regular season and the possibility of needing to qualify for the playoffs through the play-in tournament for the fourth straight year still looming, the Heat’s rotation remains fluid.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
With Digital Product Passport (DPP) looming on the EU’s horizon, brands need more than good intentions.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
The looming catastrophe that motivated the activists of the 2010s does not move the voters of the 2020s.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
With Israeli troops moving village to village and a more extensive operation looming, many in Lebanon have expressed frustrations with Hezbollah.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
While his ball production totaled just two interceptions during his career, his ability to play as a rangy deep safety forced opposing quarterbacks to keep things underneath with his top-end services looming downfield.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
There’s the constantly looming threat of the sophomore slump, and the old saw that the artist has had their entire life to write the first album and barely a spare minute to write the second.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
An onslaught of legal battles and a looming referendum could still decide whether the gerrymandered map will be in place for the 2026 election.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Amid the increasingly damning reports on the rising threat of America’s runaway deficits and debt, the looming disaster that could upend the lifestyle of tens of millions of elderly Americans is getting scant attention.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
With just more than two weeks left in the regular season and the possibility of needing to qualify for the playoffs through the play-in tournament for the fourth straight year still looming, the Heat’s rotation remains fluid.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
With Digital Product Passport (DPP) looming on the EU’s horizon, brands need more than good intentions.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
The looming catastrophe that motivated the activists of the 2010s does not move the voters of the 2020s.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
With Israeli troops moving village to village and a more extensive operation looming, many in Lebanon have expressed frustrations with Hezbollah.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looming
Adjective
-
Long airport security lines, an impending recess, and Monday’s confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as Homeland Security secretary are driving urgent Senate talks to reopen the department.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
That flashback thread unfolds against the twilight of British colonial rule, as the impending disbanding of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force’s Special Branch collides with the kidnapping of a prominent business tycoon, triggering a dangerous internal power struggle.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Where trouble may be brewing Nevertheless, experts are sounding the alarm about the potential for higher default rates in certain parts of the private credit world.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The Volunteers roared out to a 15-2 start the following spring before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but something was clearly brewing in Knoxville.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The strike was the latest on a health care facility in the Sudan war, which is approaching its third anniversary next month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Storms are expected to develop along an approaching cold front during the evening hours, when atmospheric instability and wind shear increase.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Looming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looming. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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