portentous

[pawr-ten-tuh s, pohr-]

See more synonyms for portentous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of the nature of a portent; momentous.
ominously significant or indicative: a portentous defeat.
marvelous; amazing; prodigious.

Origin of portentous

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

Related formspor·ten·tous·ly, adverbpor·ten·tous·ness, nounnon·por·ten·tous, adjectivenon·por·ten·tous·ly, adverbnon·por·ten·tous·ness, nounun·por·ten·tous, adjectiveun·por·ten·tous·ly, adverbun·por·ten·tous·ness, noun

Can be confusedportentous pretentious

Synonyms

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1, 2. See ominous. 2. unpropitious, inauspicious, threatening.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for portentous

Contemporary Examples

As such, there is a portentous quality here that can occasionally get in its own way.
Short Stories From the New China
Mindy Farabee
November 19, 2014
Little moments are portentous of grand sweeping changes, and big, dramatic moments are meaningless to all but the few involved.
Dudes and Maudes Abide at New York City Lebowski Fest
Rich Goldstein
August 25, 2014
These portentous rumblings aside, no coherent position on ectogenesis has emerged so far within the pro-life movement.
The Artificial Womb Will Change Feminism Forever
Samantha Allen
August 12, 2014
Behind these macho moves lie some pretty dramatic and portentous policy decisions.
Leslie H. Gelb: North Korea, U.S. Headed to Brink of War, Unnoticed
Leslie H. Gelb
April 1, 2012
“This is not meant to be pompous, portentous museum entertainment,” Branagh says.
The Yes List: The Nerdy Secret Behind Thor
The Daily Beast
May 6, 2011

Historical Examples

Naming him was a portentous proceeding and one not to be lightly gone about.
The Depot Master
Joseph C. Lincoln
I was as a man sapped of all strength by some portentous struggle.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini
He delivered himself of this long speech with an air of portentous gravity.
The Dominant Strain
Anna Chapin Ray
The most portentous crisis in the history of the human family has just passed.
Buffalo Bill's Spy Trailer
Colonel Prentiss Ingraham
Therefore he drew him aside in a manner as portentous and ingratiating as he could make it.
The Golden Woman
Ridgwell Cullum

British Dictionary definitions for portentous

portentous

adjective

of momentous or ominous significance
miraculous, amazing, or awe-inspiring; prodigious
self-important or pompous

Derived Formsportentously, adverbportentousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for portentous

adj.

1540s, from Latin portentosus "monstrous, marvelous, threatening," from portentem "portent" (see portend). Related: Portentously.

portentous

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}portentous

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for portentous

Contemporary Examples

As such, there is a portentous quality here that can occasionally get in its own way.

Little moments are portentous of grand sweeping changes, and big, dramatic moments are meaningless to all but the few involved.

These portentous rumblings aside, no coherent position on ectogenesis has emerged so far within the pro-life movement.

Behind these macho moves lie some pretty dramatic and portentous policy decisions.

“This is not meant to be pompous, portentous museum entertainment,” Branagh says.

Historical Examples

Naming him was a portentous proceeding and one not to be lightly gone about.

I was as a man sapped of all strength by some portentous struggle.

He delivered himself of this long speech with an air of portentous gravity.

The most portentous crisis in the history of the human family has just passed.

Therefore he drew him aside in a manner as portentous and ingratiating as he could make it.

portentous

Word Origin and History for portentous

adj.

Origin of portentous