ill-boding

A dark cloud hangs over the castle, an ill-boding sign.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Indicating or predicting something bad or unlucky: "ill-boding" describes something that is a sign of misfortune, disaster, or evil to come. It is synonymous with "ominous" or "inauspicious."

Usage Examples

• (The clouds signalled bad weather was coming.)
• (His quietness suggested something negative was about to happen.)
• (The drop predicted financial trouble.)

Advanced Usage

• "ill-boding news": news that foreshadows trouble or disaster.

  • The messenger brought ill-boding news of the approaching army. (The news warned of an imminent attack.)

• "ill-boding glance": a look that suggests something bad will happen.

  • She gave him an ill-boding glance as he left the house. (Her look predicted danger or misfortune.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ill-bodingly (adverb): in a manner that suggests bad things are to come.

  • The sky turned ill-bodingly dark. (The darkness ominously signalled a storm.)

• Bode (verb): to be a sign of something to come (often used in "bode well" or "bode ill").

  • This decision does not bode well for the company. (It is not a good sign.)

• Boding (noun): a feeling or sign that something bad will happen; an omen.

  • He had a strange boding of disaster. (A premonition of trouble.)

Synonyms

• Ominous: giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.
• Inauspicious: showing signs that a future success is unlikely; unfavourable.
• Portentous: of or like a portent; ominously significant.
• Sinister: giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen.

Antonyms

• Auspicious: conducive to success; favourable.
• Promising: showing signs of future success or good things.
• Favourable: expressing approval or indicating a good outcome.

Related Idioms

• A cloud on the horizon: a sign of trouble or difficulty to come.

  • The rising debt was a cloud on the horizon for the family. (It was an ill-boding sign.)

• The writing on the wall: a clear sign that something bad will happen.

  • The company's falling sales were the writing on the wall for its closure. (An ill-boding indication.)

Etymology Note

• "Ill-boding" is formed from "ill" (meaning bad or evil) and "boding" (the present participle of "bode," meaning to be an omen). It has been used in English since the 16th century to describe anything that foretells misfortune.