portentous

USAGE SUMMARY

"portentous" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that gives an indication of a significant future event or happening. For example, "The darkening sky was a portentous sign of an approaching storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The single, Never Fade Away, has the portent of a Killers track: portentous sound, portentous vocals, as though to convey the idea that they are talking about Important Stuff.

The Guardian - Music

The films progressed from Ozploitation fodder to the portentous story of a broken man's spiritual voyage back to humanity via death-defying heroic acts.

The Guardian - Film

But we can all recognise the uncanny quality of his dream: that chilling, portentous atmosphere.

The Guardian - Opinion

The rehearsals, portentous theme tunes, garish computer graphics, live links and guests had not prepared for such an SNP tsunami and the decimation of the Liberal Democrats.

The Guardian

I flip over a cassette of the most important album since Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (though I don't think such portentous thoughts then: just that A-Ha suddenly don't sound too amazing).

The Guardian - Music

Much portentous analysis would have you believe that Conservatism itself has reached a fork in the ideological road: back to the centre and into the euro with Mr Clarke, or deeper into right-wing insularity with Mr Duncan Smith.

The Economist

White called the season "an amazing and portentous one, full of horrible phenomena", and complained of the abnormal number of wasps.

The Economist

And in an even more portentous move, the SPV, the first device to run Microsoft's special version of Windows for mobile phones, has just been launched in Europe by Orange, a mobile operator.As the computer industry tries to cram PCs into pocket-sized devices, the mobile-phone industry has arrived at the same point but from the opposite direction.

The Economist

TOM WOLFE once delivered the perfect retort to Günter Grass's portentous warning that "the dark night of fascism is falling on America".

The Economist

The captivating sequence is accentuated by the portentous soundtrack of the composer, Joe Hisaishi, another artist whose signature style has become beloved of Ghibli fans.As wondrous as it is, it's the sort of stylistic flourish that has the potential to alienate Western audiences accustomed to more homogenised animation.

The Economist

And the key word here is the portentous "yet".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "portentous" when you want to convey a sense of importance or ominous significance. It's suitable for formal writing and can add depth to your descriptions.

Common error

Avoid using "portentous" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound pretentious or out of place in everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "portentous" primarily functions to modify nouns, imbuing them with a sense of significant or ominous importance. Ludwig AI confirms the word's validity and usability. The numerous examples confirm that "portentous" is used to describe events, signs, or pronouncements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

19%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "portentous" is a grammatically sound adjective used to describe something of significant or ominous importance. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it is a valid and usable word in written English. The frequency of its appearance across News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science domains indicates its relevance in formal contexts. While alternatives like "ominous" or "significant" may sometimes fit the context, "portentous" carries a unique weight that makes it particularly suitable for conveying a sense of impending importance or foreboding. Remember to reserve it for formal settings to avoid sounding pretentious. It is commonly used in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ominous

Focuses specifically on the threatening or foreboding aspect.

momentous

Highlights the historical or critical nature of an event.

significant

Emphasizes the importance or consequence of something.

fateful

Suggests that an event is predetermined or inevitable.

ill-omened

Suggests that something is a bad sign or bodes poorly for the future.

prophetic

Implies a predictive quality, often with a sense of divine or insightful foresight.

presageful

Indicates that something is an omen or sign of what is to come.

augural

Relates to divination or the interpretation of omens.

inauspicious

Signifies something that is not conducive to success; unlucky.

pompous

Shifts the meaning towards self-importance or exaggerated dignity.

FAQs

How can I use "portentous" in a sentence?

You can use "portentous" to describe events or signs that seem to indicate something important or ominous is about to happen. For example, "The "darkening sky" seemed a portentous sign of the coming storm".

What words can I use instead of "portentous"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "ominous", "significant", or "momentous" as alternatives to "portentous".

Is it correct to use "portentous" to describe a person?

Yes, "portentous" can describe a person, but it usually implies that they are being overly serious or pompous, rather than simply important. Using "pompous" instead may be a more suitable word.

What is the difference between "portentous" and "momentous"?

"Portentous" suggests that something is a sign of a future event, often negative, while "momentous" simply means that something is of great importance or significance.