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
While other rulers of the era relied on religious omens or superstition to guide their kingdoms, Aristotle taught the young prince that the universe could be understood through human reason and keen observation.
—
Steve Muscato, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Researchers created a test to screen drivers who can perceive omens before a road accident occurs.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Call it an omen for the accomplishment that Bergstrom pulled off on Thursday, sprinting down the runway and flying through the air to assert herself as the top pole vaulter in Colorado.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Week 1 of the 2025 season should have been taken as an omen of what’s to come.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for omen
Steve Muscato, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Researchers created a test to screen drivers who can perceive omens before a road accident occurs.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Call it an omen for the accomplishment that Bergstrom pulled off on Thursday, sprinting down the runway and flying through the air to assert herself as the top pole vaulter in Colorado.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Week 1 of the 2025 season should have been taken as an omen of what’s to come.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for omen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omen
Noun
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In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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That Mann and his daughter, at a posh Frankfurt hotel party, glimpse so many remnants of the Nazi era — including Erika’s ex-husband, who collaborated with the regime — is another portent of darkness.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
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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
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In 2007, the Oatley family opened Qualia, their 30-acre flagship property and the forerunner of Australia’s luxury lodges.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
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But the most promising augury for season two is that Widow’s Bay is old-school monster-of-the-week episodic television.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 June 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
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To be sure, some of the worst-case predictions did not materialize, such as an immediate recession or a housing market crash.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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Below are five bold predictions about what the world of artificial intelligence will look like in the year 2030.—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
Noun
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What drags the installment down, however, is the sheer predictability and lack of dissent, with seven out of the nine votes being unanimous — a foreshadowing of seasons to come.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
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With Hokum’s foreshadowing of a downbeat conclusion — and considering the rest of McCarthy’s filmography — Ohm’s survival feels unlikely.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Earth-impacting shrapnel from those primordial upheavals may have helped seed our planet with the precursors for life, delivering water and organic compounds from the dark, icy depths of the outer solar system.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
18 June 2026
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Scouts and Raiders is billed as telling the true origin story of the WWII commando unit of the same name, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, including its heavy recruitment of collegiate and professional football players.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Sometimes, the departure of an underperforming executive or official presages improvements ahead.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to drop a major hint about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding details on June 15.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
16 June 2026
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Onions add flavor, dimension, and a nice hint of acid.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omen. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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