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
-
Everyone intercepts Marie on her way to find Thomas Godolkin, and Annabeth warns her about the premonition.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Her infirmity, Lurie says, began in July, 1953, but tremors of premonition course through her work from first to last, as though sickness were naturally expected to arrive, like a punctual guest.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That may be geographically massive, but having one baseball team can inspire almost a small-town feel.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Sofas are being brought in to give the place a homey feel.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The interlocking deals also have boosted fears of a bubble in AI spending, particularly as many of these partnerships involve OpenAI, a fast-growing but unprofitable business.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Sometimes, a long pause in stalking behavior is a tactic designed to create more fear by allowing the victim to drop their guard before restarting the behavior, said Aims Babich, director of survivor services at SafeHouse Denver, an emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Over 83 pitches and six innings in that Seattle start, the righty’s suspicions grew.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
While Victim 2 took a pass on the hypercar offer -- as did an Indy car driver known as Victim 1 -- because of his suspicions about Rogers, Michael Mente did not.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Executives and industry watchers say the sector has fared better than expected, but there are now growing worries around the health of consumers and suppliers, CNBC’s Michael Wayland reports.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
-
As the days without their parents pass, their worries grow.—
Maria Santana,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Duane, who also has a bad knee, strained the old injury, adding physical pain to his feeling of foreboding.—
Marguerite Reiss,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Ultimately, this dark and foreboding-sounding class is spirited and life-affirming.—
Molly Ryder Granatino,
The Conversation,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share