variants
or less commonly obi
,
often Obeah
: a system of belief among Black people chiefly of the British West Indies and the Guianas that is characterized by the use of magic ritual to ward off misfortune or to cause harm
Examples of obeah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The Bahamas plot marks the series’ most significant expansion from the novel, exploring the impact of American meddling on longtime residents like hired enforcer Egg (David St. Louis) and Gracie (Jodie Turner-Smith), an obeah mystic who calls herself the Dragon Queen.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2024
Two Black obeah men—spiritualists—got the credit for curing her.
—Ishion Hutchinson, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2022
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
For the collection, Dimorestudio’s Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci translated 20,000 obi patterns into modern fabrics.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Rose Byrne also styled her white lace dress with a thick brown leather obi belt in Paris.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Now, with two years under its obi, Lin is ready to celebrate Orlando-style with a series of chef collaborations this week.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 30 July 2024
Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder experimented with colors and patterns in this Manhattan triplex, starting with the bed frame in the primary bedroom, which mixes Holland & Sherry textiles with vintage Japanese obi.
—Kelsey Mulvey, ELLE Decor, 6 Dec. 2022
At Van Cleef & Arpels, some of these were modeled on inro, the small boxes of wood, leather, metal, ivory or paper that Japanese men hung from their obi (kimonos have no pockets) to carry tobacco or medicinal herbs.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2021
Japanese men traditionally used an inrō, a basket worn suspended from an obi or sash, to carry small items including medicine.
—Peter Saenger, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2020
Kimonos are worn with the left side wrapped over the right and secured with an obi, or sash, around the waist.
—The Economist, 2 Mar. 2020
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Noun
Obeah in Jamaica; Santería in Cuba; Vodou in Haiti.
—Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
The Bahamas plot marks the series’ most significant expansion from the novel, exploring the impact of American meddling on longtime residents like hired enforcer Egg (David St. Louis) and Gracie (Jodie Turner-Smith), an obeah mystic who calls herself the Dragon Queen.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2024
Two Black obeah men—spiritualists—got the credit for curing her.
—Ishion Hutchinson, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2022
Noun
Kid-sized yukata, obi belts and slippers are provided, which are not only practical but are likely to make for great family photos.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
For the collection, Dimorestudio’s Britt Moran and Emiliano Salci translated 20,000 obi patterns into modern fabrics.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Rose Byrne also styled her white lace dress with a thick brown leather obi belt in Paris.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Now, with two years under its obi, Lin is ready to celebrate Orlando-style with a series of chef collaborations this week.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 30 July 2024
Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder experimented with colors and patterns in this Manhattan triplex, starting with the bed frame in the primary bedroom, which mixes Holland & Sherry textiles with vintage Japanese obi.
—Kelsey Mulvey, ELLE Decor, 6 Dec. 2022
At Van Cleef & Arpels, some of these were modeled on inro, the small boxes of wood, leather, metal, ivory or paper that Japanese men hung from their obi (kimonos have no pockets) to carry tobacco or medicinal herbs.
—New York Times, 11 Feb. 2021
Japanese men traditionally used an inrō, a basket worn suspended from an obi or sash, to carry small items including medicine.
—Peter Saenger, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2020
Kimonos are worn with the left side wrapped over the right and secured with an obi, or sash, around the waist.
—The Economist, 2 Mar. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Obeah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obeah. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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