a sense of foreboding

USAGE SUMMARY

"a sense of foreboding" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a feeling of impending danger or something negative that is about to happen. You can use "a sense of foreboding" in various situations, such as when describing a tense or ominous atmosphere or when talking about a general feeling of apprehension or unease. Example: As I walked through the abandoned house, a sense of foreboding consumed me, as if someone or something was watching my every move.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He recalled a sense of foreboding.

The Washington Post

I have a sense of foreboding.

The Guardian - Travel

Instead, there are groans, and a sense of foreboding.

The Economist

Mr. Burns left Cairo with a sense of foreboding.

The New York Times

She was haunted, too, by a sense of foreboding.

The New Yorker

We await the answer with a sense of foreboding.

The New York Times

Michael Ackerman's black-and-white photographs of Varanasi are charged with a sense of foreboding.

The New Yorker

The prospects of that war are unknowable, but there is a sense of foreboding.

The New Yorker

The mood at ISAF was one of deep shock combined with a sense of foreboding.

The Economist

That said, she admits to a sense of "foreboding" as she began writing early last year.

Independent

But a couple of incidents early in Tagliabue's tenure left him with a sense of foreboding.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a sense of foreboding" to effectively convey a feeling of impending negativity or danger in your writing. This phrase is particularly useful when setting a tense or ominous mood, as it provides a clear signal to the reader about potential negative outcomes. Remember to use it to foreshadow events and create anticipation.

Common error

Avoid using "a sense of foreboding" too frequently within a short span of text. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing seem repetitive. Instead, vary your descriptions of unease or impending danger using synonyms like "a feeling of impending doom" or "an ominous feeling" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sense of foreboding" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a subjective feeling or intuition. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sense of foreboding" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that expresses an anticipation of negative events. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to create suspense and set an ominous mood. When using this phrase, consider synonyms such as "a premonition of doom" or "an ominous feeling" for stylistic variation and avoid overuse to maintain impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a premonition of doom

Focuses more on an intuition about an impending disastrous event.

an ominous feeling

Emphasizes the sinister nature of the feeling itself.

a feeling of impending doom

Highlights the certainty and negativity of the anticipated event.

a sense of impending threat

Replaces the abstract "foreboding" with the more concrete "threat".

a growing apprehension

Suggests a gradual increase in anxiety or fear.

a strong feeling of unease

Replaces "foreboding" with a more general term for discomfort or anxiety.

a nagging feeling that something is wrong

Focuses on a persistent feeling of something being amiss.

an intuition of coming disaster

Highlights the intuitive nature and severity of the anticipated event.

a presentiment of evil

Uses a more formal term, "presentiment", and emphasizes the malicious nature of what's anticipated.

a creeping sense of dread

Emphasizes the gradual and terrifying nature of the feeling.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a sense of foreboding" in a sentence?

Use "a sense of foreboding" to create suspense and signal potential negative events. For example, "As she walked down the dark alley, "a sense of foreboding" washed over her, warning her of the danger ahead."

What are some alternatives to "a sense of foreboding" that I can use to vary my writing?

You can use alternatives like "a premonition of doom", "an ominous feeling", or "a feeling of impending doom" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a sense of foreboding" a formal or informal phrase?

"A sense of foreboding" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in descriptive or narrative writing, such as news articles or literary works.

What does it mean to experience "a sense of foreboding"?

To experience "a sense of foreboding" means to feel a strong intuition or apprehension that something bad or unpleasant is about to happen. It's often associated with a feeling of unease or anxiety about the future.