1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in marvellous
causing wonder or astonishment
in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event
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Recent Examples of portentous
Another is about death itself and the portentous ride to the other side.
—
Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Other portentous allegories ensue.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
This game would have been twice as portentous if Davis had been healthy, but the 10-time All-Star who teamed up with James to lead the Lakers to the 2020 championship is out at least two more weeks with a groin injury sustained in his Mavs debut.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
In the 1990s, public policy, now in the form of environmental policy, reemerged as the impetus for perhaps the most portentous chapter of lithium power.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Other portentous allegories ensue.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
This game would have been twice as portentous if Davis had been healthy, but the 10-time All-Star who teamed up with James to lead the Lakers to the 2020 championship is out at least two more weeks with a groin injury sustained in his Mavs debut.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
In the 1990s, public policy, now in the form of environmental policy, reemerged as the impetus for perhaps the most portentous chapter of lithium power.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous
Adjective
-
The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Then again, silence can sometimes be more ominous than shouting — as Dennis Allen, Joe Philbin and others can attest.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Is their entire a life a facade for something more sinister?—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Drawn in by her fortune and allure, Calvin accepts an invitation aboard her superyacht Eternity, only to realize her glamorous world hides sinister secrets.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Skor bars are a nonnegotiable addition; the cookies have the perfect toffee-to-chocolate ratio and wonderful texture.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Today’s tech news follows; have a wonderful weekend.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Even though Sutton had more success against Mitchell than any receiver has this season, Payton liked the speedy Franklin in tight space along the goal line against a corner who simply doesn’t have Mitchell’s menacing reach or closing speed.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
More than a third of Americans don’t even read the news, and an astonishing number of people from both parties report actual hatred for one another—including 23 percent in 2023 who favored violence should the opposing party win the next election.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The hybrid setup produces an astonishing 1,800 hp.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Inter reaching two Champions League finals in the past three seasons is nothing short of miraculous — particularly given the club got repossessed by the investment firm Oaktree just over a year ago.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield’s closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Shackleton may have made a mistake in the outdoors, and the amazing story of his getting back on track entertained millions of people for a century afterward.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
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The flocking is amazing, not too heavy yet sturdy.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a surprising shortage of teams with truly high-end blue lines.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Data shows a surprising and significant drop in book challenges from the 2023-2024 school year to the 2024-2025 term after years of increases in bans among classrooms and libraries.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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