as in premonition
a feeling that something bad will happen
a nagging presentiment of danger
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of presentiment
Toni has been reluctant to let Amalie go out by herself—her bringing back a telescope seems to confirm some kind of fear, or presentiment.
—
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
The lavishness turns quickly into horror — Godwin gives us buckets of blood unasked for in the original — and then into a presentiment of Lear on the heath.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2020
Seen from behind, men and women bundled up in heavy coats are saturated with a mute presentiment, that of people beginning to endure.
—Han Kang, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
Those years, of course, marked respectively the peak of the frenzied optimism of the last business cycle and the first chilling presentiments of what was to come.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
The lavishness turns quickly into horror — Godwin gives us buckets of blood unasked for in the original — and then into a presentiment of Lear on the heath.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2020
Seen from behind, men and women bundled up in heavy coats are saturated with a mute presentiment, that of people beginning to endure.
—Han Kang, Harper's magazine, 10 Feb. 2019
Those years, of course, marked respectively the peak of the frenzied optimism of the last business cycle and the first chilling presentiments of what was to come.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
Noun
-
The data in the new study validates these premonitions.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The premonition came true in the 36th minute.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Made from 99 percent cotton, these soft jeans are designed to have a live-in feel.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And so espadrilles with a traditional feel are most in style now.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Israeli strikes on Iranian oil fields and Iranian drone attacks elsewhere have forced production to slow or halt, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed over fear of vessels being targeted by Tehran.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Traders amped up bets on European Central Bank and Bank of England interest-rate hikes after soaring energy prices fueled fears inflation will surge.—
James Hirai,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Non-Muslims crossed a threshold and found warmth instead of suspicion.—
Monti Carlo,
AJC.com,
8 Mar. 2026
-
When he was recently arrested for suspicion of misconduct in public office, King Charles released a statement saying the investigation must take its course.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Let some quiet music gently soothe your senses while worries drift away.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
One activist said the group is aware of the concerns, as well as worries about noise complaints, but counter that with the changing tactics of ICE agents in their communities, residents are also looking for new, flexible, grassroots ways to alert people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’d been a sense of foreboding since the French media giant completed its $2 billion takeover of South African pay-TV company MultiChoice last year, with the company mum on its post-merger plans and suspicion rampant that cost-cutting measures were in the cards.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2026
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And assuming Edmonton does make it, their path out of the division wouldn’t be that foreboding.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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