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ominous

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈɑːmɪnəs/ · UK /ˈɒmɪnəs/

ominous means: Making you think that something bad is going to happen.

adjective

BAD THINGS COMINGC1

Making you think that something bad is going to happen.

  • There was an ominous silence.
  • Dark clouds gave the sky an ominous look.
  • We heard an ominous crack above us.

Similar words: threatening, menacing, foreboding

Opposites: reassuring

Common phrases: ominous silence, ominous clouds, ominous sign, ominous warning

CONVEYING AN OMENC2

Having a meaning as a sign of something that will happen in the future.

  • The priests considered the eclipse ominous.
  • Her dream was thought ominous of a royal birth.
  • The ancient account describes the birds’ flight as ominous.

How to use it: ominous of something (The priest described the comet as ominous of great change.)

Similar words: portentous

Common phrases: ominous sign, ominous event, ominous dream

Questions about ominous

What does ominous mean?

Making you think that something bad is going to happen.

What is ominous in other languages?

Türkçe: uğursuz · Español: amenazador · Français: inquiétant · Deutsch: bedrohlich · Italiano: minaccioso · 日本語: 不吉な

How do you pronounce ominous?

In American English /ˈɑːmɪnəs/; in British English /ˈɒmɪnəs/.

How do you use ominous in a sentence?

There was an ominous silence. Dark clouds gave the sky an ominous look.

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ominous in other languages

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