as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence
some economists see a looming collapse of the stock market
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brewing
to be about to happen
he tried to take a proactive approach to dealing with the problems that loomed ahead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of looming
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
The gift lies in being wholly present in the moment, whether with family, friends, or a commitment, without the shadow of the next board meeting looming.
—Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Set in the city of New York in post-World War Two, the film interrogates media propaganda, institutional power, and exploitation amid the looming threat of a mysterious global virus.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Fate of Kansas City’s district Amid the political wrangling, one looming legal case could decide the fate of Kansas City’s congressional representation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Adding further to the overall tension is the looming presence of a murderous knight in full armor roaming the countryside.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
The killing of Deranque has fueled tension between France's far right and far left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the looming 2027 presidential race.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
And what about Carney’s statement in April, during his election campaign, about the looming security threat from the Chinese?
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
The looming question of what does the fact that a Tesla drove itself from LA to NYC mean for the future of self-driving cars, whether enthusiasts should be concerned about their ability to drive in the future, and what comes next all get laid out by Roy.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
While the Supreme Court’s majority opinion did not explicitly outline a repayment protocol, dissenting Justice Brett Kavanaugh highlighted the looming administrative disaster.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026
The gift lies in being wholly present in the moment, whether with family, friends, or a commitment, without the shadow of the next board meeting looming.
—Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Set in the city of New York in post-World War Two, the film interrogates media propaganda, institutional power, and exploitation amid the looming threat of a mysterious global virus.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Fate of Kansas City’s district Amid the political wrangling, one looming legal case could decide the fate of Kansas City’s congressional representation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Adding further to the overall tension is the looming presence of a murderous knight in full armor roaming the countryside.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
The killing of Deranque has fueled tension between France's far right and far left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the looming 2027 presidential race.
—CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
And what about Carney’s statement in April, during his election campaign, about the looming security threat from the Chinese?
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
The looming question of what does the fact that a Tesla drove itself from LA to NYC mean for the future of self-driving cars, whether enthusiasts should be concerned about their ability to drive in the future, and what comes next all get laid out by Roy.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looming
Adjective
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McMillian is going to command top-scale money, if not in the form of an extension this offseason, then a year from now as an impending unrestricted free agent.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
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If the acknowledgement from those in attendance wasn’t enough, Bubic punctuated his impending return — from a left rotator cuff strain — with a simple nod and wry smile.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The dueling anxieties have been brewing for months.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
That crud jams up the works of your coffee maker, slows brewing down, and impacts the taste of your morning brew.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The grainy video shows a man in a ski mask approaching Guthrie’s front door and attempting to cover her doorbell camera with a gloved hand.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Instead of approaching concept artists with vague direction, Rune Entertainment’s process is structured to deliver precise briefs rooted in narrative intent and visual logic.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Looming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looming. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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