impending
About to happen
Impending describes something about to happen, usually something unwelcome or threatening: impending doom, impending disaster, the impending deadline.
The word carries a sense of unavoidable approach—whatever is impending looms ahead and will arrive soon.
Less commonly, impending can describe neutral events: the impending arrival of guests.
About to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- approachingComing toward something
- nearShort distance away
soon · close · nigh · at hand · about to · shortly · oncoming · next
Appearing threateningly close
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
dread · overhanging · hovering · shadowing · gathering · portentous · brooding · darkening
Impossible to prevent
- certainFree from doubt
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- destinedFixed by fate
- fatedDetermined by destiny
predetermined · sealed · irreversible · unpreventable · unstoppable · predestined · inexorable · bound
Staying until something arrives
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
unease · apprehension · dread · countdown · bracing · preparing · vigilance · watchfulness
imminent
About to occur
- forthcomingSoon to appear
- upcomingSoon to occur
- approachingComing toward something
near · soon · close · nigh · at hand · about to · shortly · oncoming · next · ensuing
looming
Appearing threateningly close
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
ominous · dread · overhanging · hovering · shadowing · gathering · portentous · brooding · darkening · sinister
unavoidable
Impossible to prevent
- certainFree from doubt
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- destinedFixed by fate
fated · predetermined · sealed · irreversible · unpreventable · unstoppable · predestined · inexorable · bound · assured
awaiting
Staying until something arrives
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- suspenseAnxious uncertainty about outcomes
- tensionStretched or strained state
anxiety · unease · apprehension · dread · countdown · bracing · preparing · vigilance · watchfulness · on edge
- time wordsminute, hour, day, now, soon
- anticipationanticipating, expectation, expectancy, expecting, awaiting
- approachingapproaching, nearing, coming, advancing, closing in
- futureforthcoming, upcoming, coming, imminent, looming
- future timestomorrow, soon, later, eventually, someday
- almost therealmost, nearly, close, imminent, approaching
- impending doomUnavoidable calamity approaching
depend, independent, suspend, independence, dependent, pending, pendant, dependence, dependency