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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Recent Examples of portentous
Other portentous allegories ensue.
—
Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
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
In the 1990s, public policy, now in the form of environmental policy, reemerged as the impetus for perhaps the most portentous chapter of lithium power.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
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
In the 1990s, public policy, now in the form of environmental policy, reemerged as the impetus for perhaps the most portentous chapter of lithium power.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Oct. 2019
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Scenes of terror and military might flash on the screen throughout the teaser, overlayed with an ominous monologue about the end times.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Normally, that would be a recipe for some edge-of-your-seat action, although Ben Hopkins’ script makes clear early on that the bomb is just a distraction, while an even more sinister plot is ticking within the blast radius.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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However, when Jess senses something sinister and then mysteriously disappears, Frida must uncover the truth before meeting the same fate.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But if Julia’s delivery of her first child is about as wonderful as pushing a human out of your body can get — even the lighting is dreamy — her second child’s delivery is the exact opposite.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Morticia has this wonderful lighter look into the world as opposed to Wednesday.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The bow-sided square manages to harness its own racing legacy, Steve McQueen et al, while still appearing contemporary in its slightly menacing dark suit.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The gains have been astonishing.—
Fred Imbert,Nick Wells,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Jessie Buckley is just astonishing.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The book—or rather, the section of the book that covers the miraculous story of the school bus that McKay drove to safety after responding to an emergency call—became the basis of Greengrass’ movie co-written by Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby.—
Tomris Laffly,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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The 22-year-old stole a miraculous, all-American hero set point against Adrian Mannarino and the crowd were up for it.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This fall brings a mix of amazing films.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
10 Sep. 2025
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That alone is amazing, said Timbrook, Depue and a representative for the soft body armor vest that stopped a bullet from piercing the officer’s chest.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to Joy Gelbman, MD, a cardiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, these results aren’t necessarily surprising.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
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After my long flight home, I was relieved that the late-night visitor turned out to be nothing more than city workers on the job (and their job in this case, while surprising, didn't turn out to be too destructive).—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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