What term describes a feeling that something bad will happen?

The term that best describes a feeling that something bad will happen is "foreboding." This word specifically refers to an ominous or uneasy feeling about the future, often associated with a sense of impending doom. It captures the essence of anticipating negative outcomes without necessarily experiencing a state of worry or panic.

While anxiety can be related to feelings of unease about future events, it encompasses a broader range of emotions and responses to stressors and does not solely imply a specific expectation of something bad occurring. Dread conveys a sense of profound fear or apprehension often tied to imminent danger, but it may not capture the more subtle, anticipatory aspect of foreboding. Panic typically refers to an intense, sudden fear or anxiety response, often resulting in irrational behavior, which is quite different from the more subdued, reflective aspect of foreboding. Thus, foreboding is the most accurate choice for describing that specific feeling of anticipating something bad.