ominously

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a way that makes you feel something bad or dangerous is going to happen.

   Grammar: Often goes before an adjective or after a verb: ominously quiet; the clouds gathered ominously.

   Patterns

   • ominously quiet
   • loom ominously

   Dark clouds gathered ominously over the harbor.

   The house was ominously quiet when we came home.

   The phone rang ominously in the middle of the night.

2. 2adverbnot comparableformal

   Used to introduce a fact that hints at coming trouble.

   Grammar: Often placed at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma: Ominously, the engine stopped.

   Ominously, the numbers kept falling after the announcement.

   Ominously for the team, their best player limped off the field.

Common combinations

ominously quiet

The street was ominously quiet after the shouting stopped.

loom ominously

The mountain loomed ominously over the village.

rumble ominously

Thunder rumbled ominously in the distance.

ominously silent

The radio went ominously silent.

ominously close

The wildfire crept ominously close to town.

Synonyms and how they differ

threateningly

Threateningly suggests a direct, deliberate threat, while ominously suggests a sign of coming trouble.

menacingly

Menacingly is usually used for a person or animal acting dangerous, whereas ominously fits signs and atmosphere.

portentously

Portentously is rarer and can also be used for something solemn or pompous.

darkly

Darkly is milder and can describe a tone or hint, while ominously clearly warns of danger.

Opposites

Word family

omen noun

a sign of something good or bad to come

ominous adjective

suggesting that something bad will happen

ominousness noun

the quality of being ominous

Commonly confused: ominously or anonymously?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ominously”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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