augury

noun

ˈȯ-gyə-rē How to pronounce augury (audio)
Definition of augurynext
1
as in prediction
a declaration that something will happen in the future a yearbook augury that of all the graduates, he would be the most likely to succeed

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2
as in omen
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event some people believe that a broken mirror is an augury of seven years' bad luck

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in divination
the art or practice of foretelling future events by interpreting omens the gift of augury that Nostradamus purportedly possessed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of augury Dream books offered augury, poetry, and purpose—a kind of secular scripture for the numbers game. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025 If EVs are any augury, America’s days at technology’s vanguard might be numbered. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025 These signs seem to confirm Sahm’s augury that the economy remains healthy. — David Thomas, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 Advertisement Remarkably, Kushner’s augury of a world coming apart holds true three decades later, including his prognostications about the dangers of climate change and the radical partisanship of the judiciary. — Peter Marks, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for augury
Recent Examples of Synonyms for augury
  1. prediction
  2. omen
  3. divination
  4. forecasting
  5. forerunner
  6. forecast
  7. portent
  8. predicting
Noun
  • The third iteration, released in 2024, expanded its prediction abilities to interactions among proteins and other molecules, including DNA, RNA and potential drugs.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
  • An independent financial economist has partnered with Kalshi on a new AI tool on top of the prediction-market exchange that aims to help small businesses hedge against everything from bad weather to election shocks—without hiring a Wall Street bank.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • The omens are less obvious on a hot summer day with clear skies.
    — Rio Yamat, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • On the company’s quarterly earnings call early Wednesday, the executive made a case for Spidey being a positive omen for Marvel‘s big team-up movie in December.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of omen
Noun
  • The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • The dichotomy exists then and now, which is why Plath’s work has longevity, and tarot is still a powerful form of divination because both speak to the soul.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Definition of divination
Noun
  • Finally, the steel industry is rapidly adopting AI to revolutionize production, improving process control, safety, demand forecasting, and logistics, including robotic inspections.
    — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The technologies that shape modern life, from GPS navigation and weather forecasting to cancer therapies and cellular communications, all rely on scientific discovery.
    — H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of forecasting
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Areas where forecasts consistently predict clear skies — or persistent cloud — will become increasingly obvious as eclipse day approaches.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • With no rain in the forecast, here’s what to expect from the wind and heat in the coming days.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of forecast
Noun
  • Things are also tough for their friends, Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao), whose constant bickering seems to be an ominous portent for their on-again-off-again relationship.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The push for the category, which comes after Hot Ones earned Daytime Emmys noms in 2022 and 2023, carries symbolic portent, given the category’s housing of traditional late night; a nomination would truly signal a passing of the torch.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 July 2026
Definition of portent
Noun
  • With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, months of previewing and predicting soon will be in the rearview mirror.
    — Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of predicting

Browse Nearby Words

augurs
augury
august
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Cite this Entry

“Augury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/augury. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on augury

Nglish: Translation of augury for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about augury

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