as in sinister
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
that comment about downsizing from the company president sounded ominous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ominous
As guests gathered around the statue of King Louis XIV in the Place des Victoires, ominous clouds rolled in.
—
Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
But the ticking clock of the season finally struck zero, meaning that Uncle Jimmy's (Oliver Platt) ominous deadline arrived.
—EW.com, 26 June 2025
As afternoon storms arrived in Colorado on Tuesday, bringing with them severe thunderstorm watches and multiple tornado warnings, social media users across the state reported heavy rain, waves of hail and ominous clouds.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—the Supreme Leader since 1989 and now eighty-six years old—pursues his regime’s martial goals and ominous fantasies.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ominous
Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
But the ticking clock of the season finally struck zero, meaning that Uncle Jimmy's (Oliver Platt) ominous deadline arrived.
—EW.com, 26 June 2025
As afternoon storms arrived in Colorado on Tuesday, bringing with them severe thunderstorm watches and multiple tornado warnings, social media users across the state reported heavy rain, waves of hail and ominous clouds.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—the Supreme Leader since 1989 and now eighty-six years old—pursues his regime’s martial goals and ominous fantasies.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ominous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ominous
Adjective
-
The Academy Award winner looks sinister and well-suited as a leader in some kind of underground workspace (one that resembles a NASA control room and the like).—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
27 June 2025
-
But those few seconds don’t erase all the fleeting, sinister impressions that came before — and that turn out not to have been fleeting, after all.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
-
The real version of Dave is equal parts pitiful and menacing, seductive and unable to fully pass himself as a normal person.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
During that bleak era, Che-Chung Tsai, a researcher at the University of Washington, contacted several companies, seeking experimental drugs for use in an animal study.—
Jon Cohen,
New Yorker,
24 June 2025
-
That said, Google’s latest survey paints a bleak picture.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ominous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ominous. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share