Which description best matches the word ominous?

• A. Threatening or suggestive that something bad is going to occur
• B. Inauspicious
• C. Foreboding
• D. Ominous

Answer: (A)

Ominous describes something that signals trouble ahead. The best match says it is threatening or suggests that something bad is going to occur, which is exactly what ominous conveys: a situation, sign, or atmosphere that warns of potential harm or misfortune. Foreboding focuses more on the feeling of impending doom itself rather than the thing that creates that feeling, so it’s a touch off in describing the attribute. Inauspicious is close in meaning—meaning not favorable—but it’s a bit less precise about the clear sense of imminent danger conveyed by ominous. Describing the word itself would be circular, so the direct sense of threat or warning is the strongest fit.