1
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in marvellous
causing wonder or astonishment
in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portentous
But unlike the relative low-budget kicks of his previous two films, Glass has lots of portentous self-importance that the movie never quite earns.
—
Will Leitch, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
The big and portentous orchestrations of John Williams play right through both exposition and action scenes like oppressive Musak.
—John H. Dorr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 July 2024
After reams of the post-liberals’ portentous obscurities, Lefebvre’s cutting clarity comes as a relief.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
The first is to speak in the hushed, portentous tones that have signified Serious Blockbusters for decades.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Will Leitch, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
The big and portentous orchestrations of John Williams play right through both exposition and action scenes like oppressive Musak.
—John H. Dorr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 July 2024
After reams of the post-liberals’ portentous obscurities, Lefebvre’s cutting clarity comes as a relief.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
The first is to speak in the hushed, portentous tones that have signified Serious Blockbusters for decades.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 1 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for portentous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous
Adjective
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But by reciting the proposal again and again, Trump might be setting in motion very real—and extremely ominous—consequences for the West Bank and the entire region.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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The historian Janis Mimura saw something more ominous: a new, proactive union of industry and governmental power, wherein the state would drive aggressive industrial policy at the expense of liberal norms.—
Kyle Chayka,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Deepfakes first attracted attention for its use in making fake celebrity pornographic films, but their uses have subsequently evolved to more sinister reasons.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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Columbia Pictures When Bobbie also suddenly transforms, Joanna discovers that her best friend has been replaced by a robot—along with all the other wives—and realizes the sinister forces at work in Stepford are coming for her next.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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So actually, the story can be looked at as a celebration of the fact that your disability can just be one wonderful part of you.—
Esme Mazzeo,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
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And now my wonderful desk light is starting to flicker.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Prosecutors, witnesses and judges who were part of Jan. 6 criminal cases were subjected to frequent harassment, menacing and threats, according to testimony and statements made during criminal proceedings in the riot cases.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2025
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Christina Ortiz, an 18-year veteran, was honored in 2022 by police brass for protecting an elderly woman who was being fleeced by a menacing con man and for solving a brother-on-brother stabbing.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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TikTok, despite facing regulatory scrutiny and bans in some countries, continues to grow at an astonishing pace, with over a billion active users worldwide.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Of course, the design and insect environment is mainly a framework for astonishing circus acts.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Now, in order to help Ao Bing’s soul recover his tangible body, Ne Zha will have to hide his identity as a demon, overcome multiple obstacles to become an immortal, and obtain a miraculous elixir to aid his pal.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2025
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Over the past 50 years, medicine has made miraculous advances in treating leukemia and other cancers affecting kids, largely due to research supported by the National Institutes of Health.—
Benjamin Mazer,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Learn about some of the native plants and animals that make Volusia County such an amazing place.—
Joe Rassel,
Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2025
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Grateful for the Eagles Organization, grateful for my team, grateful for the amazing fans in Philly.—
Ben Church,
CNN,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Rubin: There was a surprising lack of campiness to this whole thing.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2025
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This ability was not entirely surprising, given Flack’s musical background.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
The New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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