as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
foreboding clouds began to gather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 of foreboding in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Her cover swapped out heavy metal bombast and Ozzy Osbourne’s commanding scream for a foreboding piano arrangement and the quiet intensity of Stephan’s vocal.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 19 Sep. 2024
Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024
But there’s a strong foreboding about how long that village will stay together after the war, with so many longing to move far abroad or just on to another town where shaming secrets wouldn’t be known.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreboding 
Adjective
For the first half of the scene, director John G. Avildsen withholds any music — allowing the ambience of the announcers, the crowd, and the punches to build — until halfway through, a foreboding bell speeds us into the final, decisive round.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024
Her cover swapped out heavy metal bombast and Ozzy Osbourne’s commanding scream for a foreboding piano arrangement and the quiet intensity of Stephan’s vocal.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 19 Sep. 2024
Noun
Yes, there’s a world where this nagging injury — this sense of foreboding — goes away.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2024
But there’s a strong foreboding about how long that village will stay together after the war, with so many longing to move far abroad or just on to another town where shaming secrets wouldn’t be known.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foreboding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreboding
Adjective
-
Indeed, across social media on Wednesday, people were hoping — praying, even — that these ominous, panic-inducing spam messages might finally end, posting pictures of thoughtful politicians, or even excited Oprahs, to illustrate the point.David Mack, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
-
The second silence, however, lasted much longer — serving as the only ominous moment at Chavez Ravine over two otherwise rollicking, victorious Fall Classic nights.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
But Black professionals who identify as atheist or agnostic feel pressure to conceal their beliefs in order to maintain professional relationships with other African-American people.Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Tester feedback: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this finishing spray is a staple in her routine for its weightless feel and intensive oil control.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Scenes play out with all the portent of a Catholic Mass.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
-
For those who looked, there were signs and portents of core Democratic policies pushed offstage.Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Mondays used to fill many of us with dread at the thought of returning to a rigid office environment.Steve Osler, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
New developments in generative AI have sparked existential dread in many film professionals, who fear that their jobs could someday be rendered obsolete.Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Research into lithium’s effects on dementia, Alzheimer’s, and longevity has also been promising but inconclusive.Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024
-
Joby is partnering with Delta Airlines and Uber, a stakeholder since 2020, to offer ‘air taxi’ service in New York City, promising to fly passengers from Manhattan to JFK in seven minutes.Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Specifically, Bill becomes increasingly aware of young girls being held and abused by the nuns of his convent, led by a sinister mother superior, Sister Mary (played with dark-eyed, cold-hearted terror by Emily Watson).Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Elliot Page translates vitality and promise as the young teen, while a blood-freezing Catherine Keener is the sinister embodiment of resentment and cruelty.Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
The current political season, dense with incident and overcast with grim premonitions, feels more difficult than usual to take in at just a glance.Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
-
After watching tape of the Toreros defense during the week, Adebayo had what amounted to a premonition.Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Being a forerunner in your circle will put you in a good position and enable you to quickly field new possibilities, offering advantages.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024
-
Lilly developed its forerunner more than 30 years prior, according to reporting from FiercePharma. Market pricing for prescription drugs creates the incentives that perpetuate this cycle of innovation.Sally Pipes, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near foreboding
Cite this Entry
“Foreboding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreboding. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share