ominous

Pronunciation

ominous (uh-MIN-uhs)

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• om (/ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on dialect):

• /ɒ/: open back rounded vowel (similar to the "o" in "cot") - common in British English (Received Pronunciation)

• /ɑ/: low central back unrounded vowel (similar to the "a" in "father") - common in General American English

• i (/ɪ/): near-close near-front unrounded vowel (similar to the "i" in "bit")

• nus (/nəs/):

• /n/: alveolar nasal consonant (similar to the "n" in "sip")

• /ə/: schwa, mid central vowel (reduced vowel sound)

• /s/: voiceless alveolar fricative (similar to the "s" in "sip")

Word Form Variations

Ominous is an adjective. Adjectives don't have separate forms for singular and plural because they modify nouns, which take care of singular and plural.

Here are the word forms you might be interested in:

• Base adjective: ominous (used to describe something suggesting bad things to come)

• Adverb: ominously (describes how something happens in a way that suggests bad things to come - "The music swelled ominously")

• Noun: ominousness (the quality of being ominous)

There are no verb conjugations or other grammatical variations for "ominous."

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Adjective:

• Definition: Suggesting that something bad or unpleasant is likely to happen in the future; foreshadowing trouble or danger.

• Synonyms: threatening, menacing, foreboding, sinister, portentous, inauspicious

• Antonyms: auspicious, promising, hopeful, reassuring, optimistic

Adverb (ominously):

• Definition: In a way that suggests something bad or unpleasant is likely to happen in the future.

• Synonyms: threateningly, menacingly, forebodingly, sinisterly, portentously

• Antonyms: reassuringly, optimistically, hopefully

Noun (ominousness):

• Definition: The quality or feeling that something bad or unpleasant is likely to happen in the future.

• Synonyms: threat, menace, foreboding, dread, apprehension

• Antonyms: reassurance, hope, optimism

Examples of Use

Books:

• "A low rumble of thunder echoed ominously in the distance, a harbinger of the approaching storm." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)

Newspapers:

• Headline: "Ominous Signs: Experts Warn of Potential Recession" (The New York Times)

Online Publications:

• Blog title: "The Ominous Rise of Anti-Vaxx Rhetoric Online" (Science News Magazine website)

Entertainment Mediums:

• Movie scene: In a horror film, the lights flicker ominously before a monster appears.

• Video game: A character walks through a dark forest filled with ominous sounds and unsettling creatures.

Public Discourse:

• "The politician's increasingly divisive rhetoric has become increasingly ominous lately." (Social media comment)

• "There's an ominous feeling in the air after the recent string of job losses in our town." (Conversation between neighbours)

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Ominous

1. "The silence was ominous. It boded ill for the travellers lost in the heart of the desert." (Original quote)

2. "Americans have discovered the fragility of life, that ominous fragility that the rest of the world either already experienced or is experiencing now with terrible intensity." (Jose Saramago)

3. "Like gods, we have created a new universe called cyberspace that contains great good and ominous evil. We do not know yet if this new dimension will produce more monsters than marvels, but it's too late to go back." (David Horsey)

4. "It would be, in fact, very ominous if Iraq were to be able to get weapon-usable material, hydro-plutonium or highly enriched uranium from abroad." (Mohamed ElBaradei)

5. "Every nation feels itself to be superior, but in America it's a jaunty feeling, and in some cases a rather ominous one among the super-patriots." (James Salter)

6. "Why do waiting rooms have to be so ominous? Sterile white walls, uncomfortable plastic chairs, and those awful magazines that are at least three years out of date." (Jenna Morasca)

7. "The pitter-patter of rain against the window grew steadily louder, an ominous rhythm that set her nerves on edge." (Stephen King, The Shining)

8. "A cold wind whistled through the deserted street, carrying with it an ominous silence that spoke of danger lurking in the shadows." (Mary Shelley, Frankenstein)

9. "The prophecy spoke of an ominous darkness that would engulf the kingdom, leaving only destruction in its wake." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion)

10. "The thunder rumbled ominously overhead, mirroring the storm brewing within her heart." (Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre)

Etymology

The word "ominous" comes from an even older word, "omen," which means a sign that could predict future events. Back in the day, people looked for all sorts of signs, like the flight of birds or the weather, to guess what might happen next.

"Omen" itself comes from a Latin word for "mouth." This might seem strange, but it reflects the idea that people believed signs could be "spoken" through nature or events.

The word "ominous" first showed up in English around the late 1500s. Back then, it just meant that something was a sign of future events, good or bad. Over time, though, the meaning narrowed down to focus on signs that suggest something bad is coming. So, "ominous" became a way to describe things that feel scary or threatening because they hint at trouble ahead.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Ominous

• Here are some phrases and idioms that use the word "ominous":

  • Ominous silence: An unsettling quiet that suggests something bad is about to happen.

  • Ominous signs: Events or clues that foreshadow trouble or danger.

  • Ominous feeling: An intuition or gut feeling that something bad is coming.

  • Look ominous: To appear threatening or foreboding.

  • Cast an ominous shadow: To suggest a future negative outcome or consequence.

  • The writing is on the wall (ominously): A metaphor for clear signs that something bad is inevitable. (This idiom can be used without "ominously" but adding it emphasises the negative nature of the signs)

  • Walk under an ominous cloud: To be burdened by a feeling of impending misfortune.

  Bonus idiom (not literally using "ominous" but with a similar meaning):

  • A storm is brewing: This idiom suggests that trouble or conflict is developing.

Posts Related to Ominous

Source Information

Definition of ominous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.