as in portent
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
some people still believe that a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of omen
In ancient Rome, temples and sanctuaries needed clear sight lines for the taking of auspices — interpreting omens from the behavior of birds — and other rituals.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The monologue, which displayed McCarthy’s confidence and comfort as an SNL host, was a good omen of things to come in this solid episode.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
It was seen as a potential bellwether for next year’s elections, and the closer-than-expected outcome has raised alarm in the GOP that the race could be a bad omen for next year.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for omen
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The monologue, which displayed McCarthy’s confidence and comfort as an SNL host, was a good omen of things to come in this solid episode.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
It was seen as a potential bellwether for next year’s elections, and the closer-than-expected outcome has raised alarm in the GOP that the race could be a bad omen for next year.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for omen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omen
Noun
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If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Jan. 2026
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Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The forerunner of British Invasion took the summit of American entertainment, which was a huge deal across generations.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Manufactured between 1960 and 1980, Scouts were beefy 4x4s and a forerunner to the SUV.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The rule of thumb is that if a party sees a mass exodus of its members in Congress, that’s a bad augury.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
5 Sep. 2025
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Dream books offered augury, poetry, and purpose—a kind of secular scripture for the numbers game.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Those are, indeed, pat, credible theories and predictions.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
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Adding weight to Meloni’s prediction of upcoming turbulence is the fact that 43 members of Congress have already announced plans to leave.—
Juan Williams,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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With Division 1 being wide open this season, this early-season matchup is a possible foreshadowing of a postseason matchup.—
Mukala Kabongo,
Boston Herald,
23 Dec. 2025
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Vance Joseph provided a bit of foreshadowing earlier this month.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Alessandro Michele, at Valentino, was also thinking of how to collide reality and fantasy, staging his collection in nooks inspired by the kaiser panorama, an early 20th century precursor to cinema, in which viewers sat around a circle, staring into a contraption displaying slides.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvador Dalí was a key proponent.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For Swain, the rise of directs presages nothing less than a revolution in the world’s financial markets.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
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The result is chaos, bewilderment and delay that presages rising consumer prices.—
Peter S. Goodman,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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People crafted narratives out of suspicions, rumors and hints, to fill a desperate need for an explanation.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Whereas Boyd was plain-spoken on purpose, Wheeler’s diction was always elevated and precise, with a hint of sarcasm.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omen. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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