Synonyms for portentous
pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr-por·ten·tous

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. portentous

   Awful should not be used of things which are merely disagreeable or annoying, nor of all that are alarming and terrible, but only of such as bring a solemn awe upon the soul, as in the presence of a superior power; as, the awful hush before the battle. That which is awful arouses an oppressive, that which is august an admiring reverence; we speak of the august presence of a mighty monarch, the awful presence of death. We speak of an exalted station, a grand mountain, an imposing presence, a majestic cathedral, a noble mien, a solemn litany, a stately march, an august assembly, the awful scene of the Judgment Day.

   Synonyms:
   alarming, appalling, august, awful, dire, direful, dread, dreadful, fearful, frightful, grand, horrible, imposing, majestic, noble, shocking, solemn, stately, terrible, terrific

   Antonyms:
   base, beggarly, commonplace, contemptible, despicable, humble, inferior, lowly, mean, paltry, undignified, vulgar

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portentous

   Synonyms:
   indicative, suggestive, threatening, prophetic, predictive, ominous, premonitory

   Antonyms:
   auspicious, hopeful, cheering, assuring, animating, encouraging, joyous

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. portentous, prodigiousadjective

   of momentous or ominous significance

   "such a portentous...monster raised all my curiosity"- Herman Melville; "a prodigious vision"

   Synonyms:
   prodigious, olympian, stupendous, foreboding(a), fateful, colossal, surpassing, overblown, grandiloquent, pontifical, pompous, exceeding, exceptional

   Antonyms:
   insignificant, unimportant, unpretentious, unprophetic

2. fateful, foreboding(a), portentousadjective

   ominously prophetic

   Antonyms:
   unimportant, insignificant, unpretentious, unprophetic

3. grandiloquent, overblown, pompous, pontifical, portentousadjective

   puffed up with vanity

   "a grandiloquent and boastful manner"; "overblown oratory"; "a pompous speech"; "pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey"- Newsweek

   Synonyms:
   prodigious, papal, foreboding(a), tall, episcopal, overblown, grandiloquent, apostolic, pontifical, fateful, pompous, ceremonious, magniloquent, apostolical

   Antonyms:
   unimportant, unpretentious, insignificant, unprophetic

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portentousadjective

   Synonyms:
   ominous (of ill), premonitory, ill-boding

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portentousadjective

   Synonyms:
   ominous, premonitory, monstrous, prodigious

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