Thesaurus results for OMPHALOS

omphalos

noun

ˈäm(p)-fə-ˌläs

Definition of omphalos

as in center

a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest during the Vietnam War the university's campus effectively became the area's omphalos for antiwar activity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 omphalos While the rest of the world was in its accustomed turmoil, the Press, for which Ireland was the omphalos of the universe, took scant notice. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 In front of me was a black ovoid stone, known as the omphalos, set on the spot in Greek mythology where two eagles loosed by Zeus crossed paths at the earth’s nexus. — Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019 Zeus marked the spot with a stone called the omphalos (navel), to signify the location’s centrality. — National Geographic, 12 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for omphalos

Noun

Ben’s view Hoffman, who sometimes works from a small swivel chair in her children’s room, has followed a path from social video into the center of the swirling news cycles of true crime and celebrity.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
After police cordoned off an area in the city center, the situation calmed down by early Sunday morning.

— Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of center

Noun

Keithsolis Brown and Darrell Burke were arrested Tuesday and both face capital murder charges.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
With the balance of power in Tallahassee at stake, Miami’s Republican state senators fended off tough challenges Tuesday night, while Democratic candidates flipped several South Florida state House seats for the minority party in Florida’s capital.

— Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of capital

Noun

In the winter, this is one-horse town completely transforms into a mecca for serious backcountry skiers.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
But in the eight years since that location opened its doors, the brand has grown, and the mall has evolved from small art galleries into a vintage mecca.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mecca

Noun

Tens of thousands of people across more than 30 cities took to the streets, including in the capital Berlin and financial hub Frankfurt, in protests organized by the campaign group Gen Z regelt (Gen Z takes charge).

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026
To tout their readiness for the midterms, Fulton County officials invited media to the same sprawling elections hub where FBI agents seized more than 650 boxes of ballots and other 2020 election records nine months ago.

— Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of hub

Noun

The core plasma must stay searingly hot for atomic nuclei to fuse, but the surrounding chamber walls must stay cool enough to avoid structural failure.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
In them, a high voltage creates a hot plasma that smashes nuclei together.

— George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of nucleus

Noun

That’s partly a consequence of there being no direct public transportation option from Chicago’s North Side, the locus of much of the airport’s business.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to the charred remains of your home after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of locus

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“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of omphalos

noun

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