threatening sky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "threatening sky" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a sky that appears ominous or foreboding, often indicating an impending storm or bad weather. Example: The hikers turned back as they noticed the threatening sky overhead. Alternative expressions include "ominous sky" and "menacing sky."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

At night, the threatening sky slowly brightens, and the fear of rain is definitively swept away.

Vice

And just as she rode onto the beach, the sun shone through the threatening sky.

The New York Times

Above it is a narrow band of threatening sky whose gray tone is partly relieved by a suffusion of moonlight.

The New York Times - Arts

The Mets provided the few diehard fans who braved a threatening sky at Shea Stadium with a weak effort.

The New York Times - Sports

I looked at the threatening sky, and then at Bill's confident squint, and gave him a nod.

The New York Times - Travel

That pattern continued under a threatening sky Thursday afternoon, when he pushed his opening drive right of the fairway toward the gallery.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Today, Paris is the city glancing nervously at threatening skies.

The Guardian - Books

The match, which was played under threatening skies, began two hours late.

The New York Times - Sports

Under threatening skies we paddle through Reynolds Channel to Gilgo Beach before late-afternoon thunder drives us from the water.

The New York Times

Under threatening skies, Safina relied on her resilience and powerful serve to secure the championship in just 69 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

Who can do for New York, in the wake of 9/11, what the young Scorsese, De Niro, and Keitel did for the city in earlier years, and under less threatening skies?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain the singular form for a focused, intimate description of a moment, whereas the plural "threatening skies" is better suited for broader weather reports.

Common error

Avoid pairing "threatening sky" with multiple synonyms like "a dark, menacing, threatening sky". Choose one strong adjective to keep your prose punchy and avoid cliches.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase "threatening sky" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It acts as the object of a preposition (e.g., "under a threatening sky") or the subject of a sentence to establish the setting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "threatening sky" is a perfectly correct and highly evocative adjective phrase used to describe weather that appears ominous. It is most frequent in news media and literature, where it serves as a tool for setting the scene or foreshadowing conflict. While "<a href="/s/threatening+skies" target="_blank" rel="alternative">threatening skies" is a common plural variation used in broader reporting, the singular form "threatening sky" is particularly effective for focusing on a specific moment of atmospheric tension. Alternatives like "<a href="/s/ominous+sky" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ominous sky" offer similar semantic value but the phrase "threatening sky" remains a versatile and standard choice in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

storm-threatening sky

Adds an explicit mention of a storm to the atmospheric threat

ominous sky

Conveys a more sinister or supernatural feeling of impending doom

menacing sky

Implies a more aggressive or hostile natural environment

foreboding sky

Focuses on the internal feeling of dread the observer experiences

brooding sky

Suggests a heavy, quiet and expectant atmosphere

gloomy sky

Emphasizes a lack of light and a generally depressing mood

darkening sky

Refers specifically to the loss of light as a storm approaches

lowering sky

Uses a more literary and archaic term for a dark, overcast sky

leaden sky

Describes the heavy, grey and dull appearance of thick clouds

tempestuous sky

Suggests high winds and more active meteorological turbulence

FAQs

How to use "threatening sky" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an approaching storm, such as: "The match began under a "threatening sky", with dark clouds gathered over the stadium."

What can I say instead of "threatening sky"?

Depending on the desired intensity, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/ominous+sky" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ominous sky", "<a href="/s/menacing+sky" target="_blank" rel="alternative">menacing sky" or "<a href="/s/storm-threatening+sky" target="_blank" rel="alternative">storm-threatening sky".

Is "threatening sky" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a perfectly correct adjective phrase + noun structure frequently used in professional journalism and literature.

What is the difference between "threatening sky" and "ominous sky"?

While both describe bad weather, a "threatening sky" implies an active risk of rain or storm, whereas an "<a href="/s/ominous+sky" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ominous sky" carries a broader sense of doom or an ill-fated sign.