PORTENTOUS Synonyms: 181 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'portentous' differ from other similar words?

The words fateful and ominous are common synonyms of portentous . While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity. // an eerie and portentous stillness

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fateful' instead of 'portentous'?

In some situations, the words fateful and portentous are roughly equivalent. However, fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance. // the fateful conference that led to war

Q: When can 'ominous' be used instead of 'portentous'?

The words ominous and portentous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster. // ominous rumblings from the volcano

portentous

adjective

pȯr-ˈten-təs

Definition of portentous

as in ominous

being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come an eerie and portentous stillness hung over the camp the night before the battle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wonderful

causing wonder or astonishment in 1969 people regarded the first landing on the moon as a truly portentous event

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective portentous differ from other similar words?

The words fateful and ominous are common synonyms of portentous. While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

When is it sensible to use fateful instead of portentous?

In some situations, the words fateful and portentous are roughly equivalent. However, fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

When can ominous be used instead of portentous?

The words ominous and portentous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of portentous To the anxiety disorders of their children, which have the portentous mystery of an oracle’s riddle. — Nicholas Dames, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2026 Some of the big portentous moments are underscored with heavy soundtrack music composed by Billy Bivona. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026 Yet signs of a portentous ideological shift started to appear almost a quarter century ago, after 9/11. — Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 In this very funny parody of portentous British novels about nature, a pragmatic young woman goes to live on the family farm with her cousins, the passionately miserable Starkadders, and decides to reform them. — Namara Smith, New Yorker, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for portentous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portentous

Adjective

If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Instead, Mike Maignan got a confidence boost, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue combined for France’s fourth, and the favourites look more ominous than ever.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of ominous

Adjective

Dorothea centers on a Sacramento woman (Davis) who ran a boarding house for the less fortunate in the 1980s, but her seemingly benevolent actions belied her sinister motives.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 July 2026
The score drips with a sinister ostinato as the rats scurry into every corner of her castle.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Definition of sinister

Adjective

Their defensive commitment was astonishing, compact and aggressive in a 5-4-1 shape throughout, limiting the overwhelming tournament favourites to pot-shots for over an hour.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Laptop Deal The HP OmniBook 3 redefines long-haul productivity by delivering an astonishing 32 hours and 15 minutes of operating on a single charge.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026

Definition of astonishing

Adjective

If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Enola fearlessly climbs to the top of the carriage while wearing her white wedding dress, aiming a shotgun at the menacing figure.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Definition of menacing

Adjective

Kunst said there were some undocumented claims of miraculous cures prior to when records of such occurrences would be kept, dating back to the 1950s.

— Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
Argentina began to mount their counter attack with a 79th minute goal from Cristian Romero followed by Messi's 83rd minute goal, and finally a stoppage time goal for Enzo Fernández to improbably lift Argentina over Egypt in a miraculous comeback.

— Mason Leib, ABC News, 7 July 2026

Definition of miraculous

Adjective

So learn to love it and use it to help people to see the constraint as something amazing and beneficial like free filtering, a gift of what not to do, or even a head start, not a smaller box to play in.

— Nir Bashan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Networking is an amazing way to connect you with people in your professional field and to give you insight into your career trajectory, Libra.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

Definition of amazing

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“Portentous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portentous. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of portentous

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