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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-boding
  1. ominous
  2. sinister
  3. menacing
Adjective
  • The restaurant’s unfussy dining room is spiced with colorful murals, among them an ominous bathroom-door piece featuring a toilet spewing orange flames.
    — Ellen Fort, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
  • These unusual conditions explain why Sara discovers an ominous dead saltwater fish inside the caves before the group encounters a much larger ocean creature.
    — Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 29 July 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • Like the initial story, Millie’s employers (Dunst and Kelly portray the spouses) are harboring a dark, sinister secret.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As Digital Digging's Henk Van Ess noted, however, this tool also opens the door for more sinister uses.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • Shortly afterward, menacing storm clouds materialized, and the light rain gave way to a torrential downpour.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 July 2026
  • Taking place about a year after the Clone Wars, the series follows Maul (voiced to menacing perfection by Sam Witwer) and his attempt to regain his power on the planet Janix.
    — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 26 July 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

ill-beings
ill-boding
ill-bred
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ill-boding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-boding. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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