Dictionary
portentous
adjective por·ten·tous \pȯr-ˈten-təs\
: giving a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
: trying to seem important, serious, or impressive
Full Definition of PORTENTOUS
1
: of, relating to, or constituting a portent <suspense, portentous foreshadowing, hints of sinister and violent mysteries — Francine Prose>
2
: eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious
3
a : being a grave or serious matter <portentous decisions> b : self-consciously solemn or important : pompous <portentous declamation unsalted by the least trace of humor — W. H. Pritchard> c : ponderously excessive <that discipline's overwrought, portentous phrases — R. M. Coles>
— por·ten·tous·ly adverb
— por·ten·tous·ness noun
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First Known Use of PORTENTOUS
15th century
Related to PORTENTOUS
- Synonyms
- baleful, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, ill, ill-boding, inauspicious, menacing, minatory, ominous, sinister, threatening
- Antonyms
- unthreatening
Synonym Discussion of PORTENTOUS
ominous, portentous, fateful mean having a menacing or threatening aspect. ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster <ominous rumblings from the volcano>. portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity <an eerie and portentous stillness>. fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance <the fateful conference that led to war>.
Other Occult Terms
Rhymes with PORTENTOUS
PORTENTOUS Defined for Kids
portentous
adjective por·ten·tous \pȯr-ˈten-təs\
Definition of PORTENTOUS for Kids
: giving a sign or warning of something usually bad that is going to happen <a portentous dream>
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