Words / C1

OM-in-uh-s/ˈɒmɪnəs/

Ominous means suggesting trouble ahead: ominous silence, ominous clouds. Threatening is everyday; an omen is the noun cousin; promising is opposite. Do not call a missing n ominous if you have simply not opened the CSV.

Meaning

Suggesting that something bad is going to happen.

Examples

• “An ominous silence after the n query is still a query.”
• “Threatening is everyday. Dark can be literal weather. Auspicious (already in the dictionary) is a good omen. An omen is a sign. Silence in a thread is a prompt to chase, not a gothic mood board.”

Good to know

Warning of trouble ahead. Everyday: threatening. Noun cousin: omen. Opposite flavour: auspicious. Chase the query; do not aestheticise it.

Near in meaning

threat

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