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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portentous
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
Later, chugging string figures and portentous drones have the flavor of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portentous
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
Later, chugging string figures and portentous drones have the flavor of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
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.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
-
With the game tied and things looking ominous for the Galaxy, Elijah Wynder was held on a cross into the box.—
Damian Calhoun,
Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There is great teaching going on, the principal is wonderful.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Claire has been an advocate for courageous stories, an expert at complicated logistics and a wonderful partner to teams across the entire news division.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Upending age-old narrative traditions, Paul’s heroism takes a sinister turn when Herbert reveals that the Bene Gesserit, an Illuminati-like secretive order of psychic matriarchs, has long been conditioning the Fremen to expect the arrival of a messiah, or mahdi, in their native tongue.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This advertised butt jokes, campy fight montages and sinister Seth Rogen laughs.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Head there for a quieter gape at the astonishing mortar-free construction.—
Helen Brown,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
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Overall, this is astonishing work.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health.—
Karin Brulliard,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In my own haze of 'round-the-clock feeds and first-time-parent anxiety, my mom seemed something of a miraculous blur.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Atlanta Hawks guard had just led a miraculous comeback in Game 2 of a first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
To get a sentence like that in a communist, radically left-wing city of liberal lunatics is truly amazing.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The best was this amazing movie with Isabelle Huppert and Gerard Depardieu.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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For one of them to celebrate a career-first win Sunday wouldn’t be all that surprising.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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