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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Advertisement For many who work in climate, this season of extremes has revived the longstanding prediction that the effects of rising global temperatures will help drive a resurgence in concern among policymakers and the general public.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 18 July 2026
  • The highest call came from Blair’s fellow brokerage Raymond James at $800; the lowest was Stifel’s prediction of $190.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of prediction
Noun
  • Meanwhile, industrial and real estate investment plunged in the first half of the year, a bad omen for the world’s second-biggest economy.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • Diarists and observers, including hymn writer John Newton and militia officers, often treated the event as an omen reflecting the gravity of the Revolution.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of omen
Noun
  • Similar motives may be powering the fast-growing market for divination, astrology and tarot reading apps.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • The second part centers on tarot as a tool of divination and creative inspiration, beginning with the iconic 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck and moving on to art works from the twentieth century into the present day.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Definition of divination
Noun
  • For the most recent earnings season, these forecasting fruit flies buzzed around modeling 12% earnings growth for the quarter.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • This is because temperature measurements used in weather forecasting are taken in the shade and are not exposed to direct sunlight.
    — Brian Bossak, The Conversation, 1 July 2026
Definition of forecasting
Noun
  • The city had a history of assimilating such yearners, most notably Madonna, Swift’s forerunner and her own Middle American transplant success story.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 June 2026
Definition of forerunner
Noun
  • Another round of storms could bring an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated spots getting up to 8, though forecast models suggest the heaviest rain may fall northwest of the areas hit hardest so far.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Netflix and sell Shares in Netflix fell over 8% in after-hours trading after the streaming giant disappointed investors with its latest earnings forecast.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of forecast
Noun
  • 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
  • Always alert to mood swings, Hollywood this week is coping with some dauntingly positive portents.
    — Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 June 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 19 Jul. 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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