as in sinister
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
that comment about downsizing from the company president sounded ominous
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Recent Examples of ominous
When this propulsive episode comes to its ominous end, snow has blanketed the great room of the Yellowstone lodge; a wolf, shot dead by Cara, lies on the carpet beside the sofa.
—
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
Here’s what to know and how to avoid it
While the MMR vaccination was not on ACIP’s agenda, punting the committee’s discussion has ominous undertones.
—Lisa Jarvis, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
Spencer Platt | Getty Images An ominous measure that the Federal Reserve considers a near sure-fire recession signal again has reared its head in the bond market.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ominous
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
Here’s what to know and how to avoid it
While the MMR vaccination was not on ACIP’s agenda, punting the committee’s discussion has ominous undertones.
—Lisa Jarvis, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2025
Spencer Platt | Getty Images An ominous measure that the Federal Reserve considers a near sure-fire recession signal again has reared its head in the bond market.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ominous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ominous
Adjective
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Nature intrudes on the innies’ lives in increasingly sinister ways, as when they’re spirited into the wilderness for a quasi-religious ORTBO, or Outdoor Retreat and Team Building Occurrence.—
Katy Waldman,
The New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2025
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Lithgow’s character humiliates Rush’s character by forcing him to perform a humiliating act on the dementia doll, reveling in the deeply sinister debauchery.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Dozens of Musk fans targeted Costa with menacing direct messages, social media posts and emails.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2025
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If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Even the relatively staid premiere stole a handful of grim chuckles thanks to its guest star’s exceedingly blasé delivery of impossibly bleak news.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Mar. 2025
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However, experts have raised concerns about the health of the American economy, warning that the outlook for U.S. businesses and consumers may be bleak, a sentiment shared by many industry executives.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ominous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ominous. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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