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

By March this year, I felt well enough to climb one without any sense of foreboding.

From BBC

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

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

Unfortunately, I have a deep and foreboding fear that he will be proven wrong.

From Salon

Related Words

• apprehension
• dread
• premonition