portentous

[pawr-ten-tuhs, pohr-]

adjective

1. of the nature of a portent; momentous.

2. ominously significant or indicative.

   a portentous defeat.

   Synonyms: threatening, inauspicious, unpropitious

3. marvelous; amazing; prodigious.

portentous

/ pɔːˈtɛntəs /

adjective

1. of momentous or ominous significance

2. miraculous, amazing, or awe-inspiring; prodigious

3. self-important or pompous

Other Word Forms

• portentously adverb
• portentousness noun
• nonportentous adjective
• nonportentously adverb
• nonportentousness noun
• unportentous adjective
• unportentously adverb
• unportentousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of portentous¹

From the Latin word portentōsus, dating back to 1530–40. See portent, -ous

Synonym Study

See ominous.

Example Sentences

Like the album, the trailer's atmosphere is brooding and portentous.

From BBC

It is, exactly as Adebimpe suggested, akin to a mixtape that acts as a time capsule for a portentous period for an individual as much as the collective.

From Los Angeles Times

Unable to persuade a majority of the commission to endorse their deficit-cutting recommendations, Simpson and Bowles took it upon themselves to issue a list under the portentous title “The Moment of Truth.”

From Los Angeles Times

That finale closing song selection, “The Windmills of Your Mind,” is spot-on and portentous; its lyrics speak of the dreamy confusion enveloping these two.

From Salon

Starting with his film-school projects in the early 1970s, David Cronenberg hit the ground running with projects that tucked sharp social critiques into ominously portentous narratives.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apocalyptic 
• haunting 
• intriguing www.thesaurus.com
• ominous