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

It was also an America with some portentous innovations.

From Slate

Related Words

• apocalyptic
• haunting
• intriguing
• ominous