foreboding

[ fawr-boh-ding, fohr- ]

noun

1. a prediction; portent.
2. a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune, evil, etc.; presentiment.

adjective

1. that forebodes, especially evil.

foreboding

/ fɔːˈbəʊdɪŋ /

noun

1. a feeling of impending evil, disaster, etc
2. an omen or portent

adjective

1. presaging something

Derived Forms

• foreˈbodingness, noun
• foreˈbodingly, adverb

Other Words From

• fore·boding·ly adverb
• fore·boding·ness noun
• unfore·boding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreboding¹

1350–1400; Middle English forbodyng (noun); forebode, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The soul of America, on this November day of our Lord, is a dark and foreboding place.

From Los Angeles Times

Former President Trump spent his last full day of campaigning Monday saying that only he can save America from an apocalyptic future dominated by out-of-control government, an “invasion” of criminal immigrants and amoral liberals — messages of dark foreboding much like the ones that have powered the Republican’s decade on the national stage.

From Los Angeles Times

The rest of us experienced an emotional tsunami that went from dumbfounded disbelief — surely this was one last bit of rhetorical self-aggrandizement that would lead to concession if he lost — to hideous apocalyptic foreboding — this is how democracy ends, not with a bang but with a 2 a.m. press conference.

From Los Angeles Times

The scale of disinformation dominating the country is foreboding about the politics of the future.

From Salon

Such draconian conditions, combined with prisoners often on opposite sides of warring factions outside its walls, earned it a foreboding and violent reputation.

From BBC

Related Words

• apprehension
• dread
• premonition