as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
foreboding clouds began to gather
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I have this strange foreboding that your ski vacation will not turn out well, so be extra careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in portent
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
used to think that if he saw a blackbird fly over his left shoulder it was a foreboding of harm
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
a pessimist who is always overcome by a sense of foreboding before flying on an airplane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also forboding
as in promising
to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome
the dry summer doesn't forebode well for the harvest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of foreboding
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
But most of the horror stories setting a foreboding and ominous tone are anecdotal episodes — not evidence of any sort of widespread migrant crime wave.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2024
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
Beginning in the 1990s, a revolution of personal, materialistic aspirations—an extension of the one that Alexis de Tocqueville had witnessed with much foreboding in the United States in the 1830s—swept the world.
—Pankaj Mishra, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016
See all Example Sentences for foreboding 
Adjective
And Dodgers executives offered rather foreboding quotes when asked this week about the negotiations.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
But most of the horror stories setting a foreboding and ominous tone are anecdotal episodes — not evidence of any sort of widespread migrant crime wave.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Equities near their all-time highs are doing nothing to ease BTIG’s sense of short-term foreboding.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024
Beginning in the 1990s, a revolution of personal, materialistic aspirations—an extension of the one that Alexis de Tocqueville had witnessed with much foreboding in the United States in the 1830s—swept the world.
—Pankaj Mishra, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016
See all Example Sentences for foreboding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreboding
Adjective
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Something ominous, if not entirely novel, is taking shape in Washington.David Remnick, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2025
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In the winter, the opening acts like a chimney for the warmer water below, giving the spring a steaming underworld look and its ominous name.Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The metal casing adds a substantial feel, while their portable size is perfect for on-the-go use, easily slipping into a tote, duffle, or Dopp kit.Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2025
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The school is a hub of the community and big source of the small-town feel that made the Palisades feel like such a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the industry.Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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Monday’s bombing is the latest sign of Russia’s worsening terrorism problem, as well as a portent of things to come.Ilan Berman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2017
Noun
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The apocalyptic sense of dread has only been heightened by reports of hydrants running dry and a critical shortage of firefighters.Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2025
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Plagued by visions and an increasing sense of dread, Ellen encounters a force far beyond her control.Robert Lang, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As one manifestation of Carter’s commitment, his administration began to oppose loans from international financial institutions to rights-abusing governments, promising to provide financial support only after these countries demonstrated concrete improvements on human rights.Michael Posner, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Was Knies’ promising rookie season not necessarily a sign of things to come?Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Feathers tends to wear cutesy disguises, but comes across as a surprisingly sinister creature who is always observing.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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Now the star and filmmaker are trading Wakanda and the boxing ring for an original vision: a Depression-era vampire movie about twin brothers (Jordan plays both) who return to their Deep South hometown, only to find something sinister waiting.A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That premonition rings true when his parents (Tara Buckman, Geoff Hansen) are slaughtered by a carjacker dressed as Old Saint Nick himself (Charles Dierkop) just hours later, condemning the toddler into further moral compass trauma at an orphanage run by a domineering Mother Superior nun from Hell.Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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The boy tries to warn his family about his nocturnal premonitions, but when nobody takes him seriously, the boy must face the beast on his own.John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company's North American forerunner, Chrysler, has been left for dead repeatedly over the decades, only to emerge with hit products like minivans in the 1980s and the Dodge Ram pickup in the 1990s.Joel Mathis, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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The launch of its own line of foundation models marks Amazon’s latest push to strengthen its position against forerunners Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.AFP, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near foreboding
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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