Ominously: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something gives a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

• The sky darkened ominously.
• He spoke ominously about the future.

Used to describe something that indicates danger or harm directly.

• The dog was growling in a threatening manner.
• He received a threatening letter.

Describes a feeling or atmosphere that something bad or evil will happen.

• She had a sense of foreboding as she entered the old house.
• There was an air of foreboding in the room.

Gives a strong impression that something evil, harmful or criminal will happen.

• He gave her a sinister smile.
• There was something sinister about the abandoned house.

Used in a more formal or literary context to suggest that something momentous or calamitous is about to happen, often in an exaggerated way.

• He spoke portentously, as if predicting doom.
• The clouds loomed portentously over the city.

Use when describing a situation or sign that hints at something bad or threatening that may happen in the future. It often creates a sense of dread.

• The sky darkened ominously as the storm approached
• The dog growled ominously at the stranger

Use when indicating that a situation seems likely to have an unfavorable outcome right from the start. It carries a sense of bad luck or ill omen.

• The project started inauspiciously with a series of technical failures
• He began his journey inauspiciously, losing his wallet at the airport

Appropriate for emphasizing a strong sense of impending doom or bad events. It's used when the feeling of worry or fear is particularly intense.

• She glanced forebodingly at the clock, feeling that something terrible was about to happen
• The silence in the haunted house was forebodingly thick

Applicable when describing conditions or events that seem particularly unfavorable or unlikely to lead to success. It implies poor prospects or outcomes.

• The negotiations began unpropitiously, with both sides unwilling to compromise
• The weather turned unpropitiously cold just before the outdoor event

Best used when describing a feeling or sense that something (usually negative) is going to happen, based on an instinctive or psychic sense.

• She looked at him premonitively, sensing that he was hiding something important
• He had a premonitive feeling that the meeting was going to end badly