imminent
Just around here
Imminent describes something about to happen, especially something threatening or momentous: War seemed imminent, an imminent storm.
The word carries urgency—not just soon, but so close it demands attention or preparation.
Her departure was imminent.
Not to be confused with eminent (distinguished) or immanent (inherent).
Soon to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- nearShort distance away
- nighClose in proximity
close · at hand · around the corner · on the horizon · in the offing · pending · arriving · fast approaching
Suggesting something bad approaches
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
- overhangingExtending outward above
brewing · gathering · darkening · shadowing · portending · boding · presaging · sinister
Requiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- immediateHappening without delay
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
- exigentRequiring immediate attention
time-sensitive · emergency · crisis · imperative · desperate · dire · eleventh hour · last minute
Impossible to prevent
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- certainFree from doubt
- guaranteedPromised with certainty
- unstoppableImpossible to halt
unpreventable · inexorable · predestined · doomed · fated · sealed · irreversible · predetermined
impending
Soon to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- nearShort distance away
nigh · close · at hand · around the corner · on the horizon · in the offing · pending · arriving · fast approaching · shortly
ominous
Suggesting something bad approaches
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
overhanging · brewing · gathering · darkening · shadowing · portending · boding · presaging · sinister · alarming
pressing
Requiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- immediateHappening without delay
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
exigent · time-sensitive · emergency · crisis · imperative · desperate · dire · eleventh hour · last minute · countdown
unavoidable
Impossible to prevent
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- certainFree from doubt
- guaranteedPromised with certainty
unstoppable · unpreventable · inexorable · predestined · doomed · fated · sealed · irreversible · predetermined · sure
- timesecond, minute, hour, day, seconds
- time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
- approachingapproaching, nearing, coming, advancing, closing in
- Danger Levelsdanger, high risk, high-risk, low risk, critical
- expectationsexpect, expectation, anticipate, expectancy, await
- futureforthcoming, upcoming, coming, impending, looming
imminentunlikely
Not apt to happen
doubtful · uncertain · improbable · problematical · contingent
- imminent dangerThreat about to occur
- imminent threatDanger about to occur
- imminent harmDanger very close ahead