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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 portentous
Another is about death itself and the portentous ride to the other side.
—
Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
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
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
Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025
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
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,
24 Sep. 2025
-
As the ominous clip made its way across social media platforms, many users on TikTok shared various reactions to the religious message.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Football season has arrived, and so has a new horror movie produced by Jordan Peele that delves into the sinister side of the game.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Amelia Gray Hamlin Amelia Gray Hamlin partnered her black lace get-up with a sinister makeup look involving misty gray shadow.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Watching his wonderful kids, Amy, Jamie and Shauna, grow up and become deeply connected to the arts and making an impact in this world has been an immense privilege.—
Michelle Satter,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Accessible by car or Amtrak’s Northeast Regional line, which offers thrice-daily service, Culpeper is a wonderful destination for a leisurely and enriching getaway.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Cue Pennywise's menacing laughter and our first glimpse of the killer clown behind his signature red balloon.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Come night, the lawn proves more menacing.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The astonishing diversity among plumeria seedlings coming from the same pod is attributable to the large number of chromosomes in each plumeria cell, which is 54.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
20 Sep. 2025
-
MicroStrategy remains the leader among corporate crypto treasuries, holding over 638,000 bitcoins valued at an astonishing $71 billion.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
After leading his team to a miraculous win over Hanover last week on the final play, Varholak still had some last-minute magic left in the tank.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, in a remote leper village, a handsome stranger brings hope with miraculous cures until doubts grow about whether his help may come at a terrible cost.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The aluminum body is slim and light but still feels sturdy, and the OLED screen makes movies and presentations look amazing anywhere.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Many are amazing kids who’ve just been through terrible things and had no control over any of it.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
No player had a more surprising individual season than outfielder Trent Grisham, whom the San Diego Padres included in the Soto trade two offseasons ago.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
In a surprising moment, Kimmel thanked Senator Ted Cruz for defending his reinstatement.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share