as in myths
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 superstitions
But if superstitions don't bother you, there are other ways to mark Friday the 13th.
—
Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
The date is considered unlucky by some due to superstitions surrounding the number 13 in Western cultures.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 13 Feb. 2026
Other Cultural Factors In Vastu Shastra, which is an ancient Indian architecture philosophy aimed at bringing humans and buildings together in harmony, there are many superstitions surrounding south-facing homes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
What are some Friday the 13th superstitions?
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
They were also introduced to the superstitions that come around this time of year.
—Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Because of this rare condition, superstitions and myths have permeated certain African countries, both positive and negative.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
The practice of New Year’s Day superstitions comes from Europe, including those who migrated to the Southern US.
—Vogue, 30 Dec. 2025
Religious figurines adorn the house; an entire room serving as a shrine and offering a glimpse into Huang’s superstitions and efforts to protect himself.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Feb. 2026
The date is considered unlucky by some due to superstitions surrounding the number 13 in Western cultures.
—Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 13 Feb. 2026
Other Cultural Factors In Vastu Shastra, which is an ancient Indian architecture philosophy aimed at bringing humans and buildings together in harmony, there are many superstitions surrounding south-facing homes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
What are some Friday the 13th superstitions?
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
They were also introduced to the superstitions that come around this time of year.
—Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Because of this rare condition, superstitions and myths have permeated certain African countries, both positive and negative.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
The practice of New Year’s Day superstitions comes from Europe, including those who migrated to the Southern US.
—Vogue, 30 Dec. 2025
Religious figurines adorn the house; an entire room serving as a shrine and offering a glimpse into Huang’s superstitions and efforts to protect himself.
—Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superstitions
Noun
-
One of the persistent myths of the ’90s is that, with the runaway success of Nirvana’s Nevermind, label executives stopped searching for pop stars and focused on regional scenes to uncover unlikely diamonds in the rough like the Goo Goo Dolls.—
Sam Sodomsky,
Pitchfork,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Many myths about surrogacy persist, but the practice remains one that is legal and for which surrogates are fairly compensated.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Judges have a duty to ensure that a person’s liberty, due process rights, and privacy are not compromised by administrative or technical errors.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But those errors didn’t stop his performance on Sunday from helping Team USA earn a gold medal in the team figure skating event.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superstitions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superstitions. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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