as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
foreboding clouds began to gather
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I have this strange foreboding that your ski vacation will not turn out well, so be extra careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in portent
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
used to think that if he saw a blackbird fly over his left shoulder it was a foreboding of harm
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
a pessimist who is always overcome by a sense of foreboding before flying on an airplane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also forboding
as in promising
to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome
the dry summer doesn't forebode well for the harvest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of foreboding
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Apr. 2025
And then, as if Canadians needed more reminders, his closing statement was blunt, foreboding and all about the American threat.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Feb. 2025
The movie’s very first shot, beautiful yet full of foreboding, finds her swimming in the Atlantic, her peace momentarily disturbed by the roar of a military helicopter overhead.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Adjective
The lack of demand has further applied downward pressure on freight rates—a foreboding sign for trucking companies.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Apr. 2025
And then, as if Canadians needed more reminders, his closing statement was blunt, foreboding and all about the American threat.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
Its reappearance on the American scene in the twenty-first century should be taken as a foreboding.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Feb. 2025
The movie’s very first shot, beautiful yet full of foreboding, finds her swimming in the Atlantic, her peace momentarily disturbed by the roar of a military helicopter overhead.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreboding
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2025
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In another ominous sign, inventory levels have risen +1.7%.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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It is aimed at those who take the original material and enhance and improve it, thereby making a substantial contribution to the ‘feel’ of the piece.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
20 June 2025
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The good ones help cut down on breakage, smooth out frizz, and can make every at-home blow-dry feel professional.—
Daisy Maldonado,
Glamour,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Appearances aren’t deceptive; the portents are grim.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
12 June 2025
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Thus, the negative GDP change should not be taken as a portent of looming disaster.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
The fear is more like a soft surge of dread, as if my synapses had been been rewired to the thrusting strings of John Williams' famous theme.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 June 2025
-
Feelings on the ground range from dread to determination.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Verb
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As one manifestation of Carter’s commitment, his administration began to oppose loans from international financial institutions to rights-abusing governments, promising to provide financial support only after these countries demonstrated concrete improvements on human rights.—
Michael Posner,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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Was Knies’ promising rookie season not necessarily a sign of things to come?—
Joshua Kloke,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The Academy Award winner looks sinister and well-suited as a leader in some kind of underground workspace (one that resembles a NASA control room and the like).—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
27 June 2025
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But those few seconds don’t erase all the fleeting, sinister impressions that came before — and that turn out not to have been fleeting, after all.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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The production’s most elaborate sequence to shoot was Alex’s premonition, in which audiences would see the inside of the plane tear apart.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
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The ensuing explosion incinerates them both. 22. North Bay Bridge collapse (Final Destination 5) The premonition that kicks off Final Destination 5 starts off weak.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Noun
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This is, in part, explained by the institutional memory of the competition’s forerunner — the Intercontinental Cup — and the legendary battles of a bygone era.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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Another forerunner of today’s scene is Ansedonia, a hillside community of upscale homes near Capalbio that in the 1960s became popular with creative types from the Italian capital.—
Lee Marshall,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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