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
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
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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The organization's dogs don't just support New Yorkers on marathon day; New York Therapy Animals' fluffy volunteers spread smiles across the city's hospitals, healthcare facilities, day centers, and assisted living facilities.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Dylan Buell / Getty Images When the topic of the ball came up — yes, that ball from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 64-point night — Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner couldn’t help but laugh.—
Darnell Mayberry,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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DeCosta has the cap space and draft capital to acquire help before Tuesday’s trade deadline.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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The company upped its capital expenditures outlook to between $70 billion and $72 billion, up from $66 billion to $72 billion.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Jackson Hole, Wyoming A rugged and untamed spirit defines Jackson Hole, a resort that has long earned its reputation as a mecca for expert skiers.—
Charles Curkin,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
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The effort required for just the technical elements is so extensive that Van Cleef opened a special atelier for Extraordinary Objects in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland’s mecca for automaton making.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Founded in Melbourne, Airwallex later moved to the Asian finance hub of Singapore after launching in the country in early 2022.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Its nucleus is also far bigger than other notable comets, while its arrival time was fine-tuned to bring it within tens of millions of kilometers from Mars, Venus and Jupiter and be unobservable from Earth at perihelion, along with other unexpected properties.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Fission splits the nuclei of atoms to create power while fusion causes hydrogen nuclei to collide and fuse into helium atoms that release incredible amounts of energy — essentially replicating the power of the sun.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia, or the navel of newborn animals.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
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Stay here for several breaths, sending the tailbone high, gazing toward the navel, and pressing your heels gently toward the mat.—
Julia Eskins,
Outside,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The station has been the locus of thousands of scientific and engineering studies using almost 200 distinct scientific facilities, investigating everything from astronomical phenomena and basic physics to crew health and plant growth.—
Justin St. P. Walsh,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
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Weekly Newsletter Audiences were asked to consider that the display of human difference was dehumanizing or even exploitative but also to understand that the sideshow represented a locus of community and a way for disabled performers to make an independent living.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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