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
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.
—
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
The run-in form of England midfielder Eberechi Eze at previous employers Crystal Palace (22 goals in 41 games between March and May for club and country in the past three seasons) could be another positive omen for Arteta, but timing will be paramount across the board.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
For many cultures throughout history, blood moons have served as an omen, often an ominous one.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But many Floridians — particularly those who have moved here since 1998 and have no prior experience with wildfires on a massive scale — don’t see these signs and don’t comprehend the omens.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for omen
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
The run-in form of England midfielder Eberechi Eze at previous employers Crystal Palace (22 goals in 41 games between March and May for club and country in the past three seasons) could be another positive omen for Arteta, but timing will be paramount across the board.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
For many cultures throughout history, blood moons have served as an omen, often an ominous one.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
But many Floridians — particularly those who have moved here since 1998 and have no prior experience with wildfires on a massive scale — don’t see these signs and don’t comprehend the omens.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for omen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omen
Noun
-
The company’s example was seen by many as a portent of the AI future.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than receiving traditional care, however, Hylton was unwittingly plunged into a cold experiment in using remote work to offset hospital staffing shortages, which could be a grim portent in an age of AI automation.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Williams had managed traditional Tex-Mex restaurants that were the forerunner of today’s Mercado Juarez Cafes.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The camp is a program of the Woodcraft Rangers, founded by author and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, whose pioneering Woodcraft Rangers program was a forerunner to groups such as the Boy Scouts.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That’s a positive augury not only for the film’s impending profitability — $28 million is an above-average price tag for A24 — but also for the blockbusterdom of two of 2026’s biggest films: Pattinson and Zendaya will co-star again in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
6 Apr. 2026
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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
Noun
-
Redick admitted that there was a freedom to the expectations suddenly being so low – a permanent-marker selection for playoff predictions among sports-debate broadcasts over the past week.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
-
FanDuel is entering the space in a moment when prediction markets faceintense scrutiny over the risk of insider trading, along with larger ethical questions about the societal impact of letting people bet on elections or geopolitical conflicts.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His comments contained a bit of foreshadowing.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Videos using the format typically present a normal or relatable situation, followed by the implication that something will go wrong — mirroring the foreshadowing associated with the film scene.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Mobileye essentially pioneered cameras on cars, creating features such as lane-keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control, precursors to cars driving themselves.—
Chris Anderson,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The company is facing similar litigation in Nevada — and while the injunction is only temporary, and focuses on sports betting, the legal action presages the broader efforts by states to protect the lucrative revenue gambling brings in.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
-
After starring in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, Marvel fans have been wondering where the character would go next, and in a new interview, Reynolds shared some hints.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
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The ballpark was full, runs were at a premium and when a cool breeze worked its way through the stadium in the late innings Saturday night, there was the slightest hint of October.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omen. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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