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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of omphalos
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
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—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
Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—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
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In the 1940s and '50s, the Hill Country area was known as an international wool and mohair center, and Comfort’s own Adolf Stieler was called the Angora Goat King of the World.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
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Colorado went just 13-12 over two seasons with Sanders under center, and failed to win a bowl game or compete for a conference title.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On the other side of the Nile, which runs through the capital, Babakir Khalid, 2 months old, gasped for breath.—
Declan Walsh,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The pilot eventually managed to land the airplane outside Belize City after being forced to circle the airspace between northern Belize and the capital.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There’s no shortage of wealth moving to Frankfurt, either, with the German city capitalizing on London’s tarnished reputation as a money-making mecca since Brexit.—
Zoë Dare Hall,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The Neales described the Smoke Freaks headquarters as a mecca for barbecuing, grilling and smoking with 24 different pieces of equipment, from a big Texas offset smoker to 55-gallon metal drums.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These include plans for a Trump tower in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and major hub Jeddah, real estate projects in Oman and further expansion in Abu Dhabi.—
Federico Maccioni,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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The couple is visiting a community hub and an artisan market to meet some of the island’s creators.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Telomeres at the ends of chromosomes, threadlike structures of DNA found in each cell’s nucleus, serve as a biomarker of aging.—
Discover Magazine,
Discover Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Cavs acquired Mitchell to be the sherpa for this young nucleus of raw talent.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, proponents believe navel pulling can offer all these benefits and enhance overall vitality.2 Much of this practice is rooted in Ayurveda, an alternative approach to medicine that has existed for thousands of years.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
26 Mar. 2025
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Today’s Wordle Etymology The word navel comes from Old English nafela, which traces back to Proto-Germanic nabōlą.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This makes the locus of learning the campus and the workplace.—
Bruno V. Manno,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Aida would remain a locus of nonviolent resistance for the next two decades.—
Ben Ehrenreich,
Harpers Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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