MEANING
1. Suggesting an important or ominous event to come.
2. Excessively solemn, grand, or self-important in manner.
Use it for
Foreshadowing, loaded pauses, authority adopting inflated solemnity.Make atmosphere suggest consequence while allowing irony about solemn speakers.
Words that belong together
- portentous silence
- portentous warning
- portentous tone
On the page
A portentous silence followed the reading of the will.
He announced dinner in a portentous tone better suited to a coronation.
The villagers took the cracked bell as a portentous warning.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- portentous
Usage notes
Primary category: gothic. The ominous and pompous senses differ; a portentous speech may be overblown rather than predictive. Comparative more portentous; superlative most portentous. Derived adverb portentously.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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