Imminent — Defs

01 a. Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; -- said especially of misfortune or peril.

1.
Threatening to occur immediately; near at hand; impending; -- said especially of misfortune or peril.
2.
Full of danger; threatening; menacing; perilous.
“Hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach.” — Shak.
3.
(With upon) Bent upon; attentive to.[R.]
“Their eyes ever imminent upon worldly matters.” — Milton.

“Three times to-day You have defended me from imminent death.” — Shak.

“No story I unfold of public woes, Nor bear advices of impending foes.” — Pope.

“Fierce faces threatening war.” — Milton.

Syn. Impending; threatening; near; at hand.

Imminent, Impending, Threatening. Imminent is the strongest: it denotes that something is ready to fall or happen on the instant; as, in imminent danger of one's life. Impending denotes that something hangs suspended over us, and may so remain indefinitely; as, the impending evils of war. Threatening supposes some danger in prospect, but more remote; as, threatening indications for the future.