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 wonderful
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
Another is about death itself and the portentous ride to the other side.
—
Sezin Devi Keohler,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Some of the big portentous moments are underscored with heavy soundtrack music composed by Billy Bivona.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Yet signs of a portentous ideological shift started to appear almost a quarter century ago, after 9/11.
—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Much like the film lingers on the cold northern landscape, Obomsawin’s music is laced with portentous silences and unresolved harmonies.
—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Sezin Devi Keohler,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Some of the big portentous moments are underscored with heavy soundtrack music composed by Billy Bivona.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
21 Feb. 2026
Yet signs of a portentous ideological shift started to appear almost a quarter century ago, after 9/11.
—
Jason Blakely,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Much like the film lingers on the cold northern landscape, Obomsawin’s music is laced with portentous silences and unresolved harmonies.
—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous
Adjective
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The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.
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If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
Adjective
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So many wonderful dinners with friends and nights out on the town.
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Soccer – football in much of the world – has a long and wonderful tradition of singing, whether that be in praise of their favorite players, mocking opponents (sometimes, brutally so) or simply urging their team forward.
Adjective
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Because everyone will have access to the same information, AI will accentuate the value of personal connections, again promoting lineages and networks that at their most extreme may appear to be sinister establishment conspiracies.
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Soon, Pinocchio – under the influence of a sinister Cricket (Robert Englund) — goes on a killing rampage to free James from everyone evil around him, and becoming a real boy in the process — one piece at a time.
Adjective
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The adjacent riverfront area has seen astonishing growth and improvements, with a two-mile-long stretch of pedestrian paths, parks and other green space, and an event pavilion.
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According to a comprehensive reporting analysis published by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, an astonishing 79% of public companies actually increased their page counts after the rule went into effect, and 64% increased the total number of individual risk factors disclosed.
Adjective
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If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.
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For his trouble, he’s escorted out of the neighborhood in his shiny Sting Ray by a foursome of menacing dirtbikes.
Adjective
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The World Cup provided a second miraculous moment on Monday night.
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Three children were among those pulled to safety in a miraculous rescue that aired on state television.
Adjective
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The eighth-floor outdoor pool has amazing views, and the hotel sits in walking distance of shops and restaurants.
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The director, 68, and the action star, 78, worked together on 1996's Eraser, with both wanting to deliver an amazing action movie.
Adjective
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South Africa was runner-up in Group A, also with four points, including a surprising win over South Korea.
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The boisterousness seeps away, replaced by a surprising vulnerability.
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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