Ominous vs. Portent — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Ominous and Portent
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Definitions
Ominous➦
Menacing; threatening
Ominous black clouds.
Ominous rumblings of discontent.
Portent➦
A sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen
Many birds are regarded as being portents of death
Ominous➦
Of or being an omen, especially an evil one.
Portent➦
An exceptional or wonderful person or thing
What portent can be greater than a pious notary?
Ominous➦
Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
Portent➦
An indication of something important or calamitous about to occur; an omen.
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Ominous➦
Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen
Portent➦
Prophetic or threatening significance
Signs full of portent.
Ominous➦
Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant; portentous; - formerly used both in a favorable and unfavorable sense; now chiefly in the latter; foreboding or foreshowing evil; inauspicious; as, an ominous dread.
He had a good ominous name to have made a peace.
In the heathen worship of God, a sacrifice without a heart was accounted ominous.
Portent➦
(Archaic) Something amazing or marvelous; a prodigy.
Ominous➦
Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments;
A baleful look
Forbidding thunderclouds
His tone became menacing
Ominous rumblings of discontent
Sinister storm clouds
A sinister smile
His threatening behavior
Ugly black clouds
The situation became ugly
Portent➦
Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
It was a portent of things to come.
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Ominous➦
Presaging ill-fortune;
Ill omens
Ill predictions
My words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven
A dead and ominous silence prevailed
A by-election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government
Portent➦
A portending; significance
A howl of dire portent
Portent➦
Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.
Portent➦
That which portends, or foretoken; esp., that which portends evil; a sign of coming calamity; an omen; a sign.
My loss by dire portents the god foretold.
Portent➦
A sign of something about to happen;
He looked for an omen before going into battle
