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
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Malone’s premonition was not enough to stop the flood, even if the timeout sent a blunt message.—
Bennett Durando,
The Denver Post,
28 Jan. 2025
-
His music is often haunted by death — premonitions that, in his case, proved correct.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As thousands of families poured into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the University of Southern California’s main-stage commencement on Thursday night, the scene had the feel of the usual collegiate event held there: a football game.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
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The stiff feel, plus the suffocating heat of summer in NYC, is a recipe for disaster.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
15 May 2025
Noun
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Madrid’s lack of defensive intensity means their opponents can progress upfield with little fear at times, knowing that Ancelotti’s forward line does not provide their team-mates the protection that comes with pressing from the front.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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The governments of both Asian nations will start negotiations on a broad set of issues at a neutral site, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X. The ceasefire comes after the Indian and Pakistani militaries targeted each others’ bases, fueling fears of an all-out war.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
In a voice-over, the responding officer, Mark Raposo, recalls his suspicions en route.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
12 May 2025
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His protectionist advisers have encouraged his suspicions.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Another request that was also denied spelled out similar worries.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2025
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But that worry has gone into overdrive upon learning that Carlos’ body was found in the Truckee River.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
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 21 May. 2025.
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