1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in marvellous
causing wonder or astonishment
in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portentous
This game would have been twice as portentous if Davis had been healthy, but the 10-time All-Star who teamed up with James to lead the Lakers to the 2020 championship is out at least two more weeks with a groin injury sustained in his Mavs debut.
—
Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
After the game, Dončić warmly greeted his former teammates but also took a few portentous looks at the Mavericks bench during the night.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
With its whisper-thin characters, vague narrative, and acres of portentous poetry about sound, Rabbit Trap feels somehow both underwritten and overwritten.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Starting with his film-school projects in the early 1970s, David Cronenberg hit the ground running with projects that tucked sharp social critiques into ominously portentous narratives.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
After the game, Dončić warmly greeted his former teammates but also took a few portentous looks at the Mavericks bench during the night.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
With its whisper-thin characters, vague narrative, and acres of portentous poetry about sound, Rabbit Trap feels somehow both underwritten and overwritten.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Starting with his film-school projects in the early 1970s, David Cronenberg hit the ground running with projects that tucked sharp social critiques into ominously portentous narratives.
—Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous
Adjective
-
The increasing suicide rates of the elderly in rapidly aging Japan and South Korea are an ominous sign.—
The Editors,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
-
But despite some ominous signs, a close look at the data shows that travel to the United States is largely holding up — at least so far.—
Josh Holder,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Or, more likely, The Sentry is simply the benevolent mirror image of that shadowy, sinister entity that emerges after Bob Reynolds ingests a super serum.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
However, what was happening behind the scenes was more sinister than what the public thought.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And Giuseppe Trevisani, wonderful guy, is my favorite excuse of all.—
Domenico Starnone,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
-
There’s the potential to still reach 94 points, which might not quite have the same sheen to it as the 99 points achieved by Liverpool’s last title-winning side in 2019-20 but should still be recognised as a wonderful achievement.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2025
-
With its stout bastions and menacing defense towers, Kaunas Castle is the epitome of a medieval citadel.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the astonishing dialectical power of the moment.—
D. Graham Burnett,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Tom Hanks narrates this examination of the astonishing variety of life on a supercontinent stretching from northern Canada to the bottom of South America.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But there would be no miraculous comeback on this night in Fort Lauderdale.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2025
-
From Moscow’s vantage point, the past three months have been miraculous: Putin can now envision a path to win the war in Ukraine, a possibility that did not exist three months ago because the United States was blocking its way.—
Eric Green,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This soulful part of Phuket is dotted with colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, hidden temples, a vibrant art scene, and plenty of amazing restaurants and bars.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Women were calling in from all parts of the country and want to spend XY and Z and [asked to] ‘pull an amazing rack for me,’ something unique and custom to the location.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This fun take on the trend is ideal for a moody spring mani and gives a surprising dash of color to nails.—
Alejandra Rodríguez,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
-
The unusual will intrigue you (which is actually not surprising).—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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