ominous

American  

[om-uh-nuhs] / ˈɒm ə nəs /

adjective

1. portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious.

   an ominous bank of dark clouds.

2. indicating the nature of a future event, for good or evil; having the significance of an omen; being a portent.

   Some of these events were immediately ominous, while others only later revealed themselves as such.

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ominous British  

/ ˈɒmɪnəs /

adjective

1. foreboding evil

2. serving as or having significance as an omen

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Related Words

Ominous, portentous, threatening, menacing, fateful are adjectives describing that which forebodes a serious, significant, and often harmful outcome. Ominous, derived from omen “a predictor of outcomes,” usually suggests evil or damaging eventualities: ominous storm clouds; an ominous silence. Portentous, although it may suggest evil results, often stresses a momentous or very important outcome: a portentous moment in history; a portentous escalation of hostilities. Threatening may suggest calamity or great harm but sometimes mere unpleasantness: a threatening rumble from the volcano; A threatening look from his brother caused him to quickly change the subject. Menacing always suggests serious damage as an outcome: He advanced with a menacing swagger. Fateful most often stresses the great or decisive importance of what it describes: a fateful encounter between two future leaders; a fateful day that changed our world.

Other Word Forms

• ominously adverb
• ominousness noun
• unominous adjective
• unominously adverb
• unominousness noun

Etymology

Origin of ominous

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin ōminōsus “portentous,” equivalent to ōmin- (stem of ōmen ) + -ōsus; see origin at omen, -ous

Explanation

If something looks or sounds ominous, be careful: a threat or an unpleasant event is at hand. If you see an ominous frown on your boss's face, you're in trouble! Ominous, and the related word omen both come from the 16th century Latin word ōmen "foreboding." However, unlike omen, which is a sign of something good or bad to come, ominous always describes something unpleasant or threatening. If the future looks ominous, you've got nothing to look forward to. Figuratively, an ominous sky or ominous clouds promise rain or a storm.

Example Sentences

As if this wasn’t ominous enough, the latest BofA Securities fund-manager’s survey shows that Wall Street is, once again, experiencing severe cognitive dissonance: It is simultaneously worried about the market, but afraid to sell.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Though many companies still require approval from state regulators, the news could be ominous for consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Meanwhile Vance, visiting Hungary, delivered an ominous warning to Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

With just 13 days until the start of the World Championship, the manner in which Zhao won this tournament sent an ominous warning to those with aspirations of dethroning him at the Crucible.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

One day, however, right before he left, Papá made up a particularly ominous riddle.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• apocalyptic
• dangerous
• dark
• dire
• dismal
• gloomy
• grim
• haunting
• perilous
• portentous
• prophetic
• sinister
• threatening