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
With a wink and a knowing smile, Hermes (Sarah Taylor) guides the audience through a realm of stark contrasts, from the ominous storms of the world above to the infernal heat of Hadestown.
—
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Emigration through trafficking is lined up for one of the film’s leads, though an ominous, abstract prologue sets a doom-laden tone for the eventual trip not going to plan.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
But when caught on video, the masks strike many people as ominous.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Although the change sounds ominous, the option only worked on three devices: the 4th generation Echo Dot, the Echo Show 10 and the Echo Show 15.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ominous
News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Emigration through trafficking is lined up for one of the film’s leads, though an ominous, abstract prologue sets a doom-laden tone for the eventual trip not going to plan.
—Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 28 Mar. 2025
But when caught on video, the masks strike many people as ominous.
—Martin Kaste, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Although the change sounds ominous, the option only worked on three devices: the 4th generation Echo Dot, the Echo Show 10 and the Echo Show 15.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ominous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ominous
Adjective
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The supernatural thriller is set in the Jim Crow South, where twin brothers—each played by Jordan—return home from Chicago with hopes of starting over, only to confront a sinister force that’s been waiting for them.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 Apr. 2025
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The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rapper’s latest includes wistful trap anthems ruminating on his trials and tribulations, as well as menacing drill tracks and more melodic songs tapping into his romantic side to cater to his female fan base — all of which were run by Durk’s legal team before heading to streaming services.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
28 Mar. 2025
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Bell, a Ritchie regular, offers an uncouth but equally menacing counterpoint to Brosnan, a mobster who isn’t pretending that he’s crawled out of the muck.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The coming-of-age story finds a new generation of young women in Gilead, grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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Stocks had sold off sharply last Friday, amid growing uncertainty on U.S. trade policy and a bleak inflation outlook.—
Amala Balakrishner,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ominous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ominous. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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