portentous

[ pawr-ten-tuhs, pohr- ]

adjective

1. of the nature of a portent; momentous.
2. ominously significant or indicative:

   a portentous defeat.

   Synonyms: unpropitious, threatening, inauspicious

3. marvelous; amazing; prodigious.

portentous

/ pɔːˈtɛntəs /

adjective

1. of momentous or ominous significance
2. miraculous, amazing, or awe-inspiring; prodigious
3. self-important or pompous

Derived Forms

• porˈtentousness, noun
• porˈtentously, adverb

Other Words From

• por·tentous·ly adverb
• por·tentous·ness noun
• nonpor·tentous adjective
• nonpor·tentous·ly adverb
• nonpor·tentous·ness noun
• unpor·tentous adjective
• unpor·tentous·ly adverb
• unpor·tentous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of portentous¹

From the Latin word portentōsus, dating back to 1530–40. See portent, -ous

Synonym Study

See ominous.

Example Sentences

That’s when her portentous warpaint emerges, a crisp black border drawn from tear duct to wing crowning a frigid, distrustful gaze.

From Salon

In his review, the BBC's Nicholas Barber called it a "pretentious, portentous curio", akin to someone recalling a "crazy dream".

From BBC

This felt like, for us, a tribute to her and allowed us to play with the sense of something a little more portentous without being opportunistic.

From Los Angeles Times

But Elswit made great portentous use of a hot sky for when Ripley first encounters Dickie and Marge, lying on the gravel beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Each day, they dig and they dig, a task that soon groans with portentous symbolism.

From New York Times

Related Words

• apocalyptic
• haunting
• intriguing
• ominous