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.
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Recent Examples of foreboding
Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 May 2025
There’s nonetheless a difference between vibey vagueness that creates an air of foreboding mystique and fuzziness that obscures key aspects of character and story.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025
Belinda Luscombe, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
Even the objective comedy of this storyline is framed with foreboding, like the water gun fight.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Adjective
Unlike Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, this world is more foreboding than scary, but as guests quickly learn from its can’t-miss attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, monsters still shouldn’t be crossed.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 26 May 2025
There’s nonetheless a difference between vibey vagueness that creates an air of foreboding mystique and fuzziness that obscures key aspects of character and story.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 22 May 2025
Noun
His artworks, which include paintings, sculptures, mixed-media assemblages, mosaics, photographs, and film, are full of mood and foreboding.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
Even the objective comedy of this storyline is framed with foreboding, like the water gun fight.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 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,
16 Aug. 2025
-
After an ominous July jobs report – which also showed that hiring was much weaker than originally reported in May and June – the central bank was widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting next month in a bid to recharge hiring.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The brand utilizes unique technology to provide a cushiony feel that helps alleviate joint pain.—
Taylor Lane,
Flow Space,
20 Aug. 2025
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The oak tree On the flag, a chartreuse oak tree sits on the left side, symbolizing Overland Park’s park-like feel with 84 parks in the city and its Tree City USA designation.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The rise in the PCE inflation rate yesterday, to 2.8% over the past year (excluding food and energy), is a portent of price increases to come.—
Harry Holzer,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Her appearance at the funeral had only been a portent of her tragic death.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
21 July 2025
Noun
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That feeling of dread is really only a response to our dread as to what humans are capable of.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
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Right now, a legislator, even Anwar, spending time in prison adds to the whispers of dread circulating around Hartford.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 Aug. 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
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For The Fin, his team worked to make the dim light extra grainy, giving it a particularly sinister quality.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
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This turns out to be another name for Galactus, a surprisingly scary Marvel villain played with sinister sincerity by Ralph Ineson.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
Noun
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The film series follows groups of people who escape their impending deaths after someone receives a premonition about their doom, saving them from their grisly fate.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
25 July 2025
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However, this wasn't an exact premonition of what would happen over the next 17 holes.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Previously Fefferman was a key player at Radius, the indie-film company co-founded by Tom Quinn that was a forerunner to his highly successful banner Neon.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
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Lehrer was the forerunner of musical comedians like Weird Al Yankovic, Rachel Bloom, and the Lonely Island.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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