presentiment

noun

pri-ˈzen-tə-mənt How to pronounce presentiment (audio)
Definition of presentimentnext
as in premonition
a feeling that something bad will happen a nagging presentiment of danger

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 presentiment That presentiment lies behind the many present expressions of apocalypse. — Literary Hub, 18 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
  1. premonition
  2. feel
  3. fear
  4. suspicion
  5. worry
  6. foreboding
Noun
  • Retroactively, they were interpreted as premonitions of the 1994 violence that saw many thousands of locals, primarily Tutsis, massacred at the hands of Hutu Génocidaires.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 May 2026
  • The actress previously recalled having a bizarre premonition before director Sam Pinkleton even called her about the role.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Definition of premonition
Noun
  • In keeping, La Posta Vecchia’s intimate feel is that of a friend’s family castle, full of eccentric art pieces and quirky nooks and crannies in which to get lost.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 July 2026
  • Playa de San Antonio still has the feel of a traditional Spanish beach town - just with more space to spread out.
    — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of feel
Noun
  • When a massive Sonoma Coast residential development pitch sparked fears that beach access would be lost.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • While adults like Osul are looking for ways to rebuild their own lives, children are learning to live with fear, grief, uncertainty – and how to make sense of the tragedy.
    — Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of fear
Noun
  • In a recent interview with Don Lemon, Crump said that officials have yet to inform the family about any suspicions of foul play.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2026
  • Northwestern University computer scientists put those suspicions to the test.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
Definition of suspicion
Noun
  • Trustee Robert Jones renewed his worries that the creation of a subdivision of only the Sacramento and Yolo County portions of the district in April excluded conservative voters in El Dorado County who would likely to vote against the bond measure.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
  • Both relatively tolerant, despite the mothers’ initial worries about outsiders, the households mirror one another.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
Definition of worry
Noun
  • As a result, the duo has written an exposé chock-full of anecdotes and reporting that range from the foreboding and concerning to the voyeuristic and absurd.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • After dazzling in their opening match of this World Cup and dispatching Croatia 4-2, some felt a sense of foreboding when Ghana held Thomas Tuchel’s side to a 0-0 draw in their second.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of foreboding

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presented
presentiment
presentiments
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“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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