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
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These premonitions lead her and Fin to Alpine Lake, the site of a Christian winter camp in the Rocky Mountains.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
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Everyone intercepts Marie on her way to find Thomas Godolkin, and Annabeth warns her about the premonition.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Known for excellent customer satisfaction and strong local support, Sonic performs on par with larger national fiber providers while maintaining a smaller, more personalized feel.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Instead, opt for an anorak with a utilitarian feel (and will keep you warm on cooler fall days) and plenty of pockets to hold smaller items like tissues, headphones, hand sanitizer, and lip gloss.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Despite the occasional mutual love, progressives have argued that Sliwa has previously stoked racist fears and encouraged vigilante aggression.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Glossier is supporting other alumni of its 5-year-old grant program this year because of the challenges so many of these emerging brands are facing—and despite political fear among many other companies to keep these kinds of programs going.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Paul has cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Destiny Harrison, 25, the boy's mother, is being held on suspicion of murder, the outlets reported, citing the sheriff's department.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For Dillon Robertson, 32, money is a constant worry.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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The latter film was made based on the confessions of young people living in Latvia who openly spoke of patronizing teachers and parents, worries for the future and fears over fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Air Force String quartet, outfitted with black instruments, played the foreboding soundtracks from movies, including Halloween, Jaws and Harry Potter.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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Peppering dashes of humor into its brew of foreboding, the movie views the rise of an authoritarian movement through its effect on a family of unbelievers, covering a five-year period that begins in celebration and ends somewhere very different.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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