as in premonition
a feeling that something bad will happen
a nagging presentiment of danger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
-
Had Moehrig had a premonition like that before?—
Alex Zietlow
November 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And if so, is this her past or a premonition of the future?—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Before selecting final fits, the Universal Thread team tested a wide range of fabrics for stretch, recovery, hand-feel, performance and wash range.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to choosing acceleration or range maximization, there are several settings for steering feel and response and suspension behavior.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Cotton argued the shutdown’s cause was not the expiring health care subsidies, but rather Democrats’ fear of blowback from their supporters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Betty had suspicions about the relationship early on, which Dan continually denied.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
He was charged with an infraction disorderly conduct, and threat of violence and suspicion of criminal trespassing, both Class B misdemeanors in Utah.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile Syria remains scarred by years of conflict and nationals in Germany are looking on at the debate with mounting worry.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Leaders at big carmakers spelled out their worries in the latest round of earnings calls, saying that finding a replacement for Nexperia at scale in the short term will be difficult.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This musical adaptation reimagines the story of a group of teenage schoolgirls who go on a picnic to the foreboding Hanging Rock through a female lens.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share