What Does Ominous Mean?
If you’ve ever heard something described as ominous, you likely got an uncomfortable feeling of dread. Ominous means foreboding, or an indication of something bad to come. Ominous often expresses that something worrisome is afoot and elicits a feeling of apprehension in the person who perceives it.
To understand more about the meaning of ominous, it helps to look at its etymology. Ominous comes from the Latin word ominium, which is related to the Latin word ominor, which means “to show signs.” Throughout the different languages, it derives from the same root meaning of “foreboding.”
Understanding Its Meaning
Ominous can be an adjective, noun, or adverb, but the core of its meaning is the same. In its basic form, ominous means a portent of something bad or evil. An omen is something that is believed to deliver a warning of events to come.
Ominous is often used to describe something that is obviously bad, or a cause for alarm. For example, we might say “the sky was dark and ominous” to indicate that bad weather is on its way. We might also say something like “the irony is ominous” to suggest something bad will happen, but does not yet have clear signs.
Understanding How Ominous Is Used
Ominous is commonly used to describe things that give off a feeling of dread. The sky might be described as ominously dark before a storm, or a person’s situation might be described as ominously dire. In both scenarios, there is a feeling of worry, fear, or uneasiness that something bad might happen.
We also describe a situation as being ominously quiet, meaning that there is a lack of sound or movement that could signal the presence of something bad. For example, many people feel an ominous silence when they realize they are alone in the dark. Alternatively, we might see something described as “ominously promising”, which hints at something good, but also carries with it a feeling of uneasiness.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the word ominous is used to easily and quickly express dread or foreboding. We can use it to describe a large variety of situations, including moments of anxiousness or moments of great potential. Knowing when and how to use this word will help you add more depth to your writing and speech.