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
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 June 2025
-
The ominous, now classic two-note sequence is among American culture’s most recognizable tunes.—
Tracy Scott Forson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 June 2025
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
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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
-
Colleagues, mentors and friends are wonderful sources of feedback.—
Kim Salem-Jackson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
These tender, buttery peas are wonderful in any number of dishes, but our new favorite just might be this black-eyed pea dip.—
Mary Claire Britton,
Southern Living,
30 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
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In fact, her record is astonishing as a manager at the Euros with 12 wins from 12 matches.—
Darren Richman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
-
Not that the platform seems to be an astonishing source of income for most authors.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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There's also a nod to the narrator's wife making an unexpected comeback late on, though Robbie's miraculous/implausible (delete as appropriate) return from the dead stretches credibility way past breaking point.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
-
Considering her herculean effort and miraculous success, the speediness of her undoing is stunning.—
Literary Hub
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
And equally amazing is the fact that the brooch or pin that Duguid wears in it on his coat survives and [was previously] displayed next to the painting.—
Karin Wulf,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 July 2025
-
Looking for an amazing place to celebrate the Fourth of July?—
Everett Potter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
However, digging deeper reveals a surprising insight.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
This was a surprising finding that revealed that a sense of belonging — something HR traditionally considered unmeasurable — was actually one of the strongest precursors of retention.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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