Synonyms of ominous
61 similar words · 3 opposite words
Another word for ominous is star-crossed. Other synonyms of ominous are ill-starred, dire, sinister, disastrous and ill-fated. The opposite of ominous is auspicious.
Synonyms and similar words for ominous
adjectiveOf or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
- momentousOutstanding in importance, of great consequence.
- omenicHaving the quality of an omen; carrying ominous or prophetic significance.
- portentousOf momentous or ominous significance.
- big
- central
- consequential
- critical
- crucial
- epochfulImportant, momentous.
- essential
- extraordinary
- fateful
- heavy
- pivotal
- high on the totem poleAccorded relatively high importance.
- historic
- innegligibleNot negligible.
- key
- life-or-death
- meaningful
- necessary
- notedWell known because of one's reputation; famous, celebrated.
- noticeable
- observable
- outstanding
- paramount
- pertinentImportant with regard to (a subject or matter); pertaining; relevant.
- relevant
- remarkable
- salient
- significant
- unignorableThat cannot be ignored.
- valuable
- vital
- weighty
- fatefraught archaic, rareFateful.
- fatesome rareCharacterised or marked by fate; fateful.
adjectiveSpecifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen.
- threatening
- inauspiciousNot auspicious; ill-omened.
adjectiveMore synonyms
- augurousFull of augury; foreboding.
- balefulPortending evil; ominous.
- bodefulPortentous; ominous; foreboding.
- bodingForeboding, ominous, portending.
- direWarning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous.
- disastrousForeboding disaster; ill-omened.
- fatalForeboding death or great disaster.
- forebodingOf ominous significance; serving as an ill omen; foretelling of harm or difficulty.
- ill-bodingWhich bodes evil; portending bad things.
- ill-fatedUnlucky; doomed.
- ill-omenedHaving a bad omen; inauspicious; unlucky.
- ill-starredDoomed to a bad fate; hapless.
- brooding
- presagefulFull of presages; ominous.
- presagiousForeboding; ominous.
- sinisterInauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate.
- star-crossedIll-fated by destiny, the fate of the person being “written in the stars”.
- divine obsoleteForeboding; prescient.
- inauspicate obsoleteInauspicious.
- nefastous rareInauspicious, disastrous, ill-omened.
- prodigious archaicHaving the nature of an omen or portent; ominous, portentous.
- sullen obsoleteMischievous; malignant; unpropitious.
Opposite of ominous
adjectiveMore antonyms
- auspicious
- omenlessWithout an omen.
- unomenedNot omened; unforeseen.
Meaning of ominous
- adjective Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
- adjective Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen.
ominous in other languages
Questions about synonyms of ominous
- What is another word for ominous?
- Ominous has 61 synonyms on Word.ws, such as star-crossed, ill-starred, dire, sinister, disastrous, ill-fated, foreboding and portentous.
- What is the opposite of ominous?
- The opposite of ominous is auspicious.
- What does ominous mean?
- Ominous means of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: ominous (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of ominous.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/ominous. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.