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
Dan Heching, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
His cadence pairs well with the foreboding nature of trap-dancehall production, and his Bronx roots only bolster the song’s claim to the title of new-age NYC anthem.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2025
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Peppering dashes of humor into its brew of foreboding, the movie views the rise of an authoritarian movement through its effect on a family of unbelievers, covering a five-year period that begins in celebration and ends somewhere very different.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The windowless hallways are narrow in the federal building that houses this immigration court, and the agents’ stocky bodies are foreboding in the tight corridors.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Adjective
By the end of this batch of episodes, the pair is still in the hospital and Holly is still missing, lost in a decidedly foreboding dreamscape.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025
His cadence pairs well with the foreboding nature of trap-dancehall production, and his Bronx roots only bolster the song’s claim to the title of new-age NYC anthem.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2025
Noun
The Air Force String quartet, outfitted with black instruments, played the foreboding soundtracks from movies, including Halloween, Jaws and Harry Potter.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Peppering dashes of humor into its brew of foreboding, the movie views the rise of an authoritarian movement through its effect on a family of unbelievers, covering a five-year period that begins in celebration and ends somewhere very different.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Nile is skeletal like Jared Kushner; his thinness is foreboding, marking a disavowal of all that is sensual.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The windowless hallways are narrow in the federal building that houses this immigration court, and the agents’ stocky bodies are foreboding in the tight corridors.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreboding
Adjective
-
One prospect is as ominous as that of a government capturing its universities for political purposes — a government encouraging antisemitism under the guise of opposing it.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
-
But experts warn that the Iranian regime has learned an ominous lesson.—
Ilan Berman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The feel around this matchup is a little different as Peterson has dealt with a number of health issues, while Dybantsa has played all 20 games.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2026
-
DeZarate used an iced jade roller to bring down any puffiness and massaged my skin with La Mer Moisturizing Matte Lotion for that truly luxurious feel.—
Jesa Marie Calaor,
Allure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Suffused with dread and bathed in reverb, the record captures two virtuosos at their most vulnerable.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The dread of blacklisting among cast and crew members who jump from job to job in the entertainment industry isn’t unique to The Cleaning Lady.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In contrast, Merck and J&J have shown steadier growth, driven by strong existing portfolios and promising pipelines.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In one case, the daughter of a deceased follower recovered four hundred thousand dollars despite the fact that her mother had signed a pledge, at the age of eighty-six, promising not to seek a refund of her donations.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One of them has fashioned a sinister balaclava out of his cap and neck gaiter.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
While the visual effect can be startling, there is nothing sinister at play.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Whether Montgomery had a premonition or not, the Blues suddenly found themselves in a shootout on Friday.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Most strikingly, some are from the near future, and have an uncanny resemblance to premonitions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The forerunner of British Invasion took the summit of American entertainment, which was a huge deal across generations.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Manufactured between 1960 and 1980, Scouts were beefy 4x4s and a forerunner to the SUV.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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