Thesaurus results for PRESENTIMENT

presentiment

noun

pri-ˈzen-tə-mənt

Definition of presentiment

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

Noun

In these transitional months, everyone has their own premonitions about what trends will dominate the season ahead, but what will actually happen is pretty much anyone’s guess.

— Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026
Portland’s women’s sporting epicenter Lisa believes her family’s years in the fashion industry gave her and her brother a premonition about the rise of women’s sports years before the NWSL and WNBA would take off in earnest.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of premonition

Noun

The cashmere blend also gives it that soft, elevated feel that makes even a basic travel outfit look a little more thoughtful.

— Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026
There is nothing quite like Oxford, Mississippi, from its Southern charm to the small-town feel that defines it.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of feel

Noun

Lawrence has widened his aim to the entire AI industry, calling for a pause on AI development in the wake of fears from some at the companies that the technology could eliminate humanity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Feldstein’s arrest was kept under a sweeping gag order, for fear that disclosing it would compromise Israeli intelligence, but the Haaretz reporter Bar Peleg soon learned of it.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of fear

Noun

Dmitriy Mazurov plays successful company director Gleb, whose seemingly perfect life starts to unravel, not due to the conflict however, but rather his suspicions that his wife (Iris Lebedeva) is having an affair.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
Part of the investigation’s task was to examine the response of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), including whether senior staff should have responded differently when suspicions about Letby’s behavior were eventually raised.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of suspicion

Noun

Yields have been on the rise because of worries about inflation, big debt loads for governments worldwide and other factors.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
This is meant to address worries that frequent fast charging might shorten battery life.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

And here’s where all the flash-forward business this season finally comes into thematic focus, imbuing the scene with an Old-Testament style foreboding.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
On stage, the audience is the camera, peering into a cutaway of set designer Fly Davis’ ominous, two-story house, lit with foreboding foreshadowing by Anna Watson.

— Frank Rizzo, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of foreboding

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presentiment

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“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of presentiment

noun

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