portentous

[ pawr-ten-tuh s, pohr- ]

/ pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr- /

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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

portcullis, porte, porte-cochere, portend, portent, portentous, porter, porter chair, porter's sign, porter, cole, porterage

Origin of portentous

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

SYNONYMS FOR portentous

1, 2 See ominous.

2 unpropitious, inauspicious, threatening.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR portentous ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

por·ten·tous·ly, adverbpor·ten·tous·ness, nounnon·por·ten·tous, adjectivenon·por·ten·tous·ly, adverb

non·por·ten·tous·ness, nounun·por·ten·tous, adjectiveun·por·ten·tous·ly, adverbun·por·ten·tous·ness, noun

Can be confused

portentous pretentious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for portentous

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

“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|DAILY BEAST
One might naturally suppose that, in this fact, there was a breach of privilege of the most portentous kind.
Practical Essays|Alexander Bain
St. Cuthberts holy island of Lindisfarne was sacked in 793, and similar raids multiplied with portentous rapidity.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume I of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
Stopping for some things there I took a moment to read the portentous paper I had received.
Birth of a Reformation|Andrew Byers
Dead silence—solemn stillness—candles with unsnuffed wicks of portentous length.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth
He rose and stood over her, towering and portentous against the curtained light.
Linda Condon|Joseph Hergesheimer

British Dictionary definitions for portentous

portentous

/ (pɔːˈtɛntəs) /

adjective

of momentous or ominous significance

miraculous, amazing, or awe-inspiring; prodigious

self-important or pompous

Derived Forms

portentously, 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