as in portents
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 omens
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.
—
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 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
The omens of Sandro Tonali scoring twice in the same game of a knockout competition for Newcastle United are certainly encouraging.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Favourable Winds For The UK Index At the risk of speaking too soon, so far the omens are pretty good.
—John Stepek, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of you may have found a more spiritual connection to the universe, seeing omens, signs, and visions of what was, what is and what could be.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
In ancient Rome, temples and sanctuaries needed clear sight lines for the taking of auspices — interpreting omens from the behavior of birds — and other rituals.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For over two centuries, eerie sightings of the Dash have tied it to omens of death and supernatural lore.
—Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 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
The omens of Sandro Tonali scoring twice in the same game of a knockout competition for Newcastle United are certainly encouraging.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Favourable Winds For The UK Index At the risk of speaking too soon, so far the omens are pretty good.
—John Stepek, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of you may have found a more spiritual connection to the universe, seeing omens, signs, and visions of what was, what is and what could be.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
In ancient Rome, temples and sanctuaries needed clear sight lines for the taking of auspices — interpreting omens from the behavior of birds — and other rituals.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For over two centuries, eerie sightings of the Dash have tied it to omens of death and supernatural lore.
—Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omens
Noun
-
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
From cosmic ray experiments to radioactive decay experiments to solar experiments to high-energy physics experiments involving particle colliders, the Standard Model’s predictions have agreed with every single such experiment ever performed.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Physics usually involves proposing a theoretical model, making predictions based on that model, and then testing them experimentally.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And excitingly, there are structural hints with WISPIT 2's protoplanetary disk of more forming protoplanets.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Jay has also been dropping hints about being back outside this year.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Bakri uses different voices and facial expressions for each, encouraging his students to dream broadly and praising their wild suggestions for where reading can take them.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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The administration has since walked back suggestions that McDonald would report directly to the White House instead of senior Justice Department leaders.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omens. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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