Portentous Definition & Meaning

portentous
adjective
  1. of momentous or ominous significance; "such a portentous...monster raised all my curiosity"- Herman Melville; "a prodigious vision"
  2. ominously prophetic
  3. puffed up with vanity; "a grandiloquent and boastful manner"; "overblown oratory"; "a pompous speech"; "pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey"- Newsweek

Usage tips for "portentous"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "portentous" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for portentous to find words that pair well.

Use "portentous" in a verse

Now that you know what "portentous" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Look up another word