Definition Definition

ominous - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'ominous' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Ominous [ a.]
- Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant; portentous; -- formerly used both in a favorable and unfavorable sense; now chiefly in the latter; foreboding or foreshowing evil; inauspicious; as, an ominous dread.

Meaning of 'ominous' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . ominous [ s]
Meaning (1):
- threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Example in sentence:
  • a baleful look;
  • a sinister smile;
  • forbidding thunderclouds;
  • his threatening behavior;
  • his tone became menacing;
  • ominous rumblings of discontent;
  • sinister storm clouds;
  • the situation became ugly;
  • ugly black clouds
Meaning (2):
- presaging ill fortune
Example in sentence:
  • a by-election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government;
  • a dead and ominous silence prevailed;
  • ill omens;
  • ill predictions;
  • my words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven