impended
Was about to
Impended is the past tense of impend, meaning to be about to happen, especially something threatening or momentous.
The word suggests looming inevitability: War impended, Disaster impended over the city.
Like its more common form impending, it conveys that something significant hangs just ahead, waiting to occur.
Appearing threateningly close
- overhangingExtending outward above
- nearingGetting progressively closer
- approachingComing toward something
- forthcomingSoon to appear
pending · brewing · gathering · at hand · close · proximate · inevitable · unavoidable
Intense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- omenProphetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
presage · warning · anxiety · unease · trepidation · misgiving · presentiment · ill omen
Source of potential harm
doom · catastrophe · disaster · crisis · calamity · ruin · destruction · downfall
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- awaitingStaying until something arrives
bracing · readiness · tension · alertness · on edge · holding breath · waiting game
looming
Appearing threateningly close
- overhangingExtending outward above
- nearingGetting progressively closer
- approachingComing toward something
forthcoming · pending · brewing · gathering · at hand · close · proximate · inevitable · unavoidable · oncoming
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- omenProphetic indicator
portent · presage · warning · anxiety · unease · trepidation · misgiving · presentiment · ill omen · harbinger
menace
Source of potential harm
jeopardy · doom · catastrophe · disaster · crisis · calamity · ruin · destruction · downfall · storm clouds
expectation
Belief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
awaiting · bracing · readiness · tension · alertness · on edge · holding breath · waiting game
impendedoccurred
Took place in time
happened · transpired · materialized · came to pass · concluded
- impending doomUnavoidable calamity approaching