Synonyms of looming

looming 1 of 2

adjective

as in impending

giving signs of immediate occurrence

some economists see a looming collapse of the stock market

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impending
• imminent
• possible
• coming
• approaching
• brewing
• threatening
• around the corner
• pending
• future
• nearing
• inevitable
• probable
• upcoming
• forthcoming
• unavoidable
• ominous
• predicted
• gathering
• oncoming
• apocalyptic
• near
• likely
• menacing
• anticipated
• foreseen
• awaited
• expected
• portentous
• lowering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distant
• past
• remote
• ultimate
• eventual
• former
• far-off
• recent
• late
• bygone

looming

2 of 2

verb

present participle of loom

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

• brewing
• impending
• approaching
• hovering
• nearing
• threatening
• hanging
• drawing on
• advancing
• gathering
• closing in
• lowering
• overhanging
• menacing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• diminishing
• falling
• disappearing
• receding
• vanishing
• dwindling
• shrinking
• declining
• waning
• tapering
• lowering
• fading
• ebbing
• lessening
• subsiding
• abating
• relenting
• tapering off
• dying down
• moderating
• passing
• remitting
• letting up
• retreating
• withdrawing
• falling back
• de-escalating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of looming

Verb

Even though the oil market continues to run at a deficit, the more oil that comes out of the strait, the longer the market can stave off a looming tipping point at which its reserves become insufficient to supply the world with enough oil. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

The Columbine boss says the sense of looming retirement that crept into his head during the 2023 championship season has waned. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026

But Johnson offered a glimmer of hope in his explanation about the looming suspension. — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The cast gave a sneak peek at the upcoming threequel at D23 and revealed that a mysterious, villainous threat is looming. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

While the district has made hefty budget cuts in the last year to slash its looming deficit, Oakland Unified Superintendent Denise Saddler said officials have been able to keep most of the cuts out of the classroom. — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

But the big test of California's law is looming over the next few months, when speed cameras are set to be activated in Los Angeles — a city that has long been defined by its love of cars, especially fast ones. — Joel Rose, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to stalking charges in the 2024 ambush killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a move that could upend a looming state murder trial. — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

That includes a statue of Jack the Clown, a recurring HHN icon, looming in the New York area of the park. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026