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
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Recent Examples of foreboding
Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
As well as that, there's a foreboding shot of Galactus casting his considerable shadow over New York City.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
Mid- to late-cycle expansions don’t need to draw fuel from a deep reservoir of fear and foreboding, the way early-cycle recoveries do.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foreboding
Adjective
The music is eerier, and the environment seems more foreboding.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
As well as that, there's a foreboding shot of Galactus casting his considerable shadow over New York City.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
But they are also weighted with foreboding, especially as Carter asks her to perform stranger acts.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
Mid- to late-cycle expansions don’t need to draw fuel from a deep reservoir of fear and foreboding, the way early-cycle recoveries do.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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,
11 May 2025
-
Against this ominous backdrop, a small group of scientists is scrambling to preserve the ability to know how much carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
Noun
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As thousands of families poured into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the University of Southern California’s main-stage commencement on Thursday night, the scene had the feel of the usual collegiate event held there: a football game.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
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The square back is timeless, and the oversized, curved, and rolled arms give it a delicate feel that balances out the sharper lines of the back.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Matthew stresses royalty, prefacing the birth with heavenly portents; afterward, Magi bear royal gifts to a future king.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
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But the attacks could have been interpreted very differently: as a horrific case of blowback and a portent of resistance to U.S. hegemony.—
Stephen Wertheim,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
Boom!, the semi-autobiographical musical from Rent creator Jonathan Larson, as a hungry young composer racing toward his 30th birthday with more than a note of dread.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
7 May 2025
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Developing Greater Self-Awareness Identifying behavioral signs of anxiety — such as physical restlessness, changes in eating habits or a sense of dread — may provide useful insights.—
Diane Winiarski,
Forbes.com,
1 May 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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While investigating the case of a teenage girl left for dead in the woods, Luminița (34), a small-town police officer, risks being swallowed into a dark, sinister world, where the unlawful meets the occult.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 May 2025
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The real-life School of Rock founder’s former students tell a more sinister story By Ezra Marcus Hats Off! Daniel Berulis, a cyber-security expert and employee of the National Labor Relations Board.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
3 May 2025
Noun
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Malone’s premonition was not enough to stop the flood, even if the timeout sent a blunt message.—
Bennett Durando,
The Denver Post,
28 Jan. 2025
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His music is often haunted by death — premonitions that, in his case, proved correct.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The case was the forerunner to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno’s decision to snatch Elián from his cousin’s Little Havana home and reunite him with his dad in Cuba.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
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Most of the forerunners of modern Zionism saw themselves as secular.—
Tamir Sorek,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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