as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
foreboding clouds began to gather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foreboding
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, for example, melds her image with the foreboding aesthetic of her tour and gothy moods of the songs within.
—Lina Lecaro, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2025
Early in President Donald Trump’s second term, European leaders and many U.S. defense and security experts were anticipating this week’s NATO summit with foreboding.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2025
Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Adjective
Not content to rest on a foreboding physical presence or to hide behind a mask like Jason or Michael Myers, Freddy’s greatest strength is his personality.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, for example, melds her image with the foreboding aesthetic of her tour and gothy moods of the songs within.
—Lina Lecaro, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
In the immediate aftermath of a killing with obvious political resonance, there is a period of nervous foreboding, as the public waits for news of the perpetrator’s identity and for any hints of what might have motivated the terrible act, and braces for the recriminations to come.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2025
Early in President Donald Trump’s second term, European leaders and many U.S. defense and security experts were anticipating this week’s NATO summit with foreboding.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2025
Verb
Despite the seemingly sweet resolution to their storyline (and an ostensibly upbeat last line of dialogue), there’s a strange undercurrent to the Nagisa and Natsuo segment that suggests foreboding as much as potential happiness — a mysterious tension befitting the creator that Miyake is adapting.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreboding
Adjective
-
Though conventional in its concept (family moves into house, spirits possess family, paranormal investigators exorcize spirits), the movie's significance comes from its execution, which electrified audiences with ominous clapping hands and expert control of tension.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Unwisely agreeing to go for a spin, Tony finds they’re soon tailed by an ominous black SUV.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Known for excellent customer satisfaction and strong local support, Sonic performs on par with larger national fiber providers while maintaining a smaller, more personalized feel.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Instead, opt for an anorak with a utilitarian feel (and will keep you warm on cooler fall days) and plenty of pockets to hold smaller items like tissues, headphones, hand sanitizer, and lip gloss.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Many reckoned with its ideals; pervasive talk of liberty held particular portent for women’s lives.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Keane, though, sees nothing but disaster ahead, a portent presaged by some of the film’s most enduring images, like a stretch limo with a flat tire and a steam room littered with empty champagne bottles.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Melissa's mysteries capture interest Hurricane scientists watched with a familiar feeling of dread as Melissa traversed the Caribbean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Imagine not suffering existential dread over Tilly Norwood; imagine the freedom to choose to use AI for interstitial shots without kicking the Letterboxd hornets’ nest, as did the brothers Cairnes with Late Night With the Devil back in 2024.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An original anime feature set in an alternate 2027 Japan is at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market, promising a high-octane blend of feudal imagery and futuristic warfare.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Although the initial research has been promising, Wray said, it’s been limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up periods.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Their double life soon gets complicated when a rival boy band harboring a sinister secret begins stealing their fans.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Candyman, the Candyman franchise (1992–1999; 2021) Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) finds out that adoration and horror don't mix when she is faced with the attachment of the sinister Candyman (Tony Todd) in the 1992 film classic.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These premonitions lead her and Fin to Alpine Lake, the site of a Christian winter camp in the Rocky Mountains.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Everyone intercepts Marie on her way to find Thomas Godolkin, and Annabeth warns her about the premonition.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Perfected by forerunners such as Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, this fall has already seen two music stars gift us with lay-it-all-out-there lyrics.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The Park cinema launched under the ownership of Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, a forerunner of Cineplex and today an operator of multiplexes and out of home destinations.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share