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
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
Noun
-
Plants a few miles away and has filled the apartment with enormous trees in ceramic pots, giving the rooms a bohemian feel.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The dress cinched slightly at her midsection before flowing into a softly pleated skirt, giving it that breezy, romantic feel that’s perfect for spring.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Orr’s study also found that even as silence about climate change can spiral into deeper fears of speaking out, speaking about the issue can drive a spiral toward further discussion and action — and that individual conversations can play a surprisingly large role.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
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Creating a culture of fear by persecuting unpopular individuals and groups?—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Panicked at the thought of Kamilla, his closest (and secret) ally leaving the game, Kyle desperately tried to convince others to vote for Chrissy instead, raising David's eyebrows and planting suspicion of an undercover alliance.—
Emily DeLetter,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Unlike Revere, who was known as a fierce revolutionary, Dawes might be able to bypass the checkpoint without raising suspicion.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Not Enough People Are Watching ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Saturday, April 26 New Google Leak Reveals Subscription Changes For Gemini AI There is no shortage of worries for European auto manufacturers.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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These worries lead people to make a series of decisions to delay having children, with hopes of having them in the future.—
Lisa Hagen,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His artworks, which include paintings, sculptures, mixed-media assemblages, mosaics, photographs, and film, are full of mood and foreboding.—
Belinda Luscombe,
Time,
31 Mar. 2025
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Even the objective comedy of this storyline is framed with foreboding, like the water gun fight.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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