portentous
Americanadjective
-
of the nature of a portent; momentous.
-
ominously significant or indicative.
a portentous defeat.
- Synonyms:
- threatening, inauspicious, unpropitious
-
marvelous; amazing; prodigious.
adjective
-
of momentous or ominous significance
-
miraculous, amazing, or awe-inspiring; prodigious
-
self-important or pompous
Related Words
See ominous.
Other Word Forms
- nonportentous adjective
- nonportentously adverb
- nonportentousness noun
- portentously adverb
- portentousness noun
- unportentous adjective
- unportentously adverb
- unportentousness noun
Etymology
Origin of portentous
From the Latin word portentōsus, dating back to 1530–40. See portent, -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Were the dialogue a bit less ornate and portentous, the story might be easier to swallow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025
In his review, the BBC's Nicholas Barber called it a "pretentious, portentous curio", akin to someone recalling a "crazy dream".
From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024
It was also an America with some portentous innovations.
From Slate • Jun. 20, 2024
This felt like, for us, a tribute to her and allowed us to play with the sense of something a little more portentous without being opportunistic.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2024
The chaplain’s first mention of the name Yossarian! had tolled deep in his memory like a portentous gong.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
