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
  • As evening descends on Paris, there are ominous signs for what lies ahead tonight.
    — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Once storms roll through, things will change with temperatures falling for the afternoon, light rain and drizzle around, and cloudy ominous skies.
    — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ominous
Adjective
  • Ancient myths and modern cinema depict bogs as sinister locales, dangerous to cross, and fatal to get trapped in.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • That’s when things took a strange and somewhat sinister turn.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of sinister
Adjective
  • The preacher sought refuge from a menacing bear by climbing a tree.
    — Alfred H. Moses, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026
  • His friends and family received a barrage of menacing threats.
    — Todd Wallack, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Ill-boding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-boding. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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