as in myth
a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck; a belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck
It is a common superstition that a black cat crossing your path is bad luck.
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Recent Examples of superstition
Each episode tracks a single day around this private ceremony, and each day Rachel’s paranoia and superstition, fed by an accelerating number of strange occurrences, ramps up.
—
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
The movie seems keen to the now-ancient and passé concept of selling out, though not terribly interested in actually reviving or adopting Gen X’s principled superstition against it.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
But then his superstition stopped him.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
They are obligated to live in a state of unceasing anxiety, superstition, and fear of their team being cursed.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superstition
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026
The movie seems keen to the now-ancient and passé concept of selling out, though not terribly interested in actually reviving or adopting Gen X’s principled superstition against it.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
But then his superstition stopped him.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
They are obligated to live in a state of unceasing anxiety, superstition, and fear of their team being cursed.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superstition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superstition
Noun
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The chief human resources officer at $76 billion giant Colgate-Palmolive, Sally Massey, dispelled the myths that Gen Z only brings high standards and chaos to the workplace.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Like the tricksters of myth, there’s depth to their slyness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The lawyers had requested that the Justice Department website be temporarily shut down and that an independent monitor be appointed to ensure no further errors occurred.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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This story has been updated with new information, to reframe parts of the story and to correct spelling errors.—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superstition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superstition. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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