as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
during the Vietnam War the university's campus effectively became the area's omphalos for antiwar activity
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Recent Examples of omphalos
In front of me was a black ovoid stone, known as the omphalos, set on the spot in Greek mythology where two eagles loosed by Zeus crossed paths at the earth’s nexus.
—
Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
Zeus marked the spot with a stone called the omphalos (navel), to signify the location’s centrality.
—National Geographic, 12 Mar. 2019
Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
Zeus marked the spot with a stone called the omphalos (navel), to signify the location’s centrality.
—National Geographic, 12 Mar. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omphalos
Noun
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For philosophers like Simone Weil and Iris Murdoch, the capacity to give true attention to another being lies at the absolute center of ethical life.—
D. Graham Burnett,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
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In the aftermath, at a postpartum center in Taiwan, my husband and I tried to put ourselves back together.—
Karissa Chen,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The company also raised guidance on its capital expenditures for the year, expecting to spend between $64 billion to $72 billion.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Representing a milestone in South American TV and politics, the screening of Lara: The Man Who Tried To Save Colombia in the capital Bogotá is a commemoration of the 41st anniversary of Lara’s assassination.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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From a pastel mecca of makeup, to decadent chocolate dim sum-and even where to score coveted Sonny Angels-these are the spots sure to please the hard-to-shop-for tween in your life.—
Bea McMonagle,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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The big picture: The nonprofit Cobbs Creek Foundation is in the midst of a massive $175 million restoration project that aims to transform the course into a golfing mecca for the region.—
Mike D'Onofrio,
Axios,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These include plans for a Trump tower in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and major hub Jeddah, real estate projects in Oman and further expansion in Abu Dhabi.—
Federico Maccioni,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The couple is visiting a community hub and an artisan market to meet some of the island’s creators.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On the mound, the team’s recent rotation nucleus of German Marquez, Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela is healthy.—
Tony Blengino,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Winter Park has a key nucleus of players returning from last year’s 7-4 team, but lost nine starters overall.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Some businesses may have additional age or identification requirements for piercings on certain parts of the body, such as the navel, eyebrow or genitals.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Key Takeaways Influencers on social media are touting navel oiling to alleviate digestive issues, stress, and pain from menstrual cramps, PCOS, or endometriosis.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Texas Hill Country AVA also serves as the locus of wine tourism in the state—as well as home base for much of the state’s wine production, despite its distance from the major growing region in the state, the Texas High Plains.—
Colleen C. Myles,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Abby, Dina, and Jesse, all new additions this season, can be more fully formed than the secondary characters of season one, while Ellie in particular becomes the locus for the show’s biggest moral questions.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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