Ominous

//ˈɒmɪnəs// adj

adj ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.

    "In Cornouaille, Brittany, it is popularly believed that the weather of the last six days of December and the first six of January prognosticates the weather of the twelve months; but in other parts of Brittany it is the first twelve days of January that are supposed to be ominous of the weather for the year."

  2. 2
    Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen

    "California poll support for Jerry Brown's tax increases has ominous implications for U.S. taxpayers too Los Angeles Times Headline April 25, 2011"

Adjective
  1. 1
    presaging ill fortune wordnet
  2. 2
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
threateningportentousunpropitiousportentousinauspiciousomenic

Example

More examples

"The sky looks ominous. I wonder if it will rain."

Etymology

From Latin ōminōsus (“full of foreboding”), from ōmen (“forbidden fruit, omen”), from Old Latin osmen, of uncertain origin, with many origins proposed (see ōmen).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.