Dictionary.com

portentous

[ pawr-ten-tuhs, pohr- ]
/ pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr- /
See synonyms for portentous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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Origin of portentous

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

synonym study for portentous

1, 2. See ominous.

OTHER WORDS FROM portentous

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH portentous

portentous , pretentious
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to portentous

haunting, apocalyptic, intriguing, ominous, alarming, amazing, astounding, destined, doomed, exhilarating, extraordinary, fated, fateful, ill-boding, ill-fated, impending, important, inauspicious, inspiring, phenomenal

Example sentences from the Web for portentous

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 of portentous

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