Antonyms for the phrase "were imminent" would describe a scenario opposite to one that is likely to happen soon. Synonyms to describe this could include unlikely, remote, or distant. Other antonyms could include probable, expected or certain. These words imply a situation that is uncertain, and not necessarily approaching quickly. An antonym for the phrase could also be things like improbable, impossible, or out of the question, which suggest that an event is not going to happen at all. Overall, antonyms for "were imminent" indicate a lack of urgency or expectation, and a scenario where something is not set to occur in the near future.