ill-boding

adjective

ˈil-ˈbō-diŋ How to pronounce ill-boding (audio)
Definition of ill-bodingnext
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come in an ill-boding turn of events, the government began rounding up political dissidents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-boding
  1. ominous
  2. sinister
  3. menacing
Adjective
  • The early returns were ominous, and prospects did not improve from there.
    Vox Staff, Vox, 6 Nov. 2024
  • The brief visual featured a snippet of the track — a few ominous piano notes with some percussion.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • Specifically, Bill becomes increasingly aware of young girls being held and abused by the nuns of his convent, led by a sinister mother superior, Sister Mary (played with dark-eyed, cold-hearted terror by Emily Watson).
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Elliot Page translates vitality and promise as the young teen, while a blood-freezing Catherine Keener is the sinister embodiment of resentment and cruelty.
    Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Herbert was sacked six times in the first half, including three by the Browns’ menacing Myles Garrett.
    Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The menacing slugger Giancarlo Stanton was retired on a single pitch.
    Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Definition of menacing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near ill-boding

ill-beings

ill-boding

ill-bred

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ill-boding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-boding. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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