as in portent
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
some people still believe that a black cat crossing your path is a bad omen
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Recent Examples of omen
Poe’s great, terrifying symbol, an emblem of lost wandering, absent compassion, and frightful omens, evoked Noah and the Ark and real-life apocalypse.
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Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
From the outset of its 1819 voyage, its crew faced difficulties—or, to a superstitious 19th-century sailor, bad omens.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
Intriguing in themselves, these phenomena are dire omens.
—Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024
These are bad omens for the future of Israel as a democratic state.
—Barak Mendelsohn, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014
See all Example Sentences for omen 
Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024
From the outset of its 1819 voyage, its crew faced difficulties—or, to a superstitious 19th-century sailor, bad omens.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
Intriguing in themselves, these phenomena are dire omens.
—Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024
These are bad omens for the future of Israel as a democratic state.
—Barak Mendelsohn, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2014
See all Example Sentences for omen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omen
Noun
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History says such a two-year performance in itself is neither a scary portent nor a ticket to further riches.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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Monday’s bombing is the latest sign of Russia’s worsening terrorism problem, as well as a portent of things to come.Ilan Berman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2017
Noun
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The company's North American forerunner, Chrysler, has been left for dead repeatedly over the decades, only to emerge with hit products like minivans in the 1980s and the Dodge Ram pickup in the 1990s.Joel Mathis, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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The launch of its own line of foundation models marks Amazon’s latest push to strengthen its position against forerunners Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.AFP, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Here are my predictions: song lyrics will become more direct and angry — probably a response to the noise of social media and cutting through the clutter.Ron Hart, SPIN, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Yankees blog Bleeding Yankee Blue also examined the Alonso situation on Wednesday and arrived at the same prediction: Alonso back to the Mets for few years and low money.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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These signs seem to confirm Sahm’s augury that the economy remains healthy.David Thomas, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024
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The auguries were not favorable for a Pétain acquittal.Robert O. Paxton, Harper's Magazine, 17 Dec. 2023
Noun
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This was a fair description of some elements in the Antall government—and a prescient foreshadowing of the populist style that Orban himself would later adopt.PAUL LENDVAI, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
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The emphasis on ambiguity was fitting foreshadowing of the next 45 minutes of the Dallas Cowboys’ state of the union news conference.Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
Noun
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Some potential precursor KPIs include: • The partner’s cost per lead (CPL) from different sources.Henry McIntosh, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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The petition — which itself isn’t a lawsuit but a precursor — was withdrawn this week.Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In politics, there are liars and better liars How the Biden administration helped avoid a coup in Guatemala China’s meddling in Taiwan election presages year of misinformation threats Need help keeping up with this tumultuous election?Washington Post, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
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The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
Noun
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The signature drink is Luz Margarita, a tropical margarita with passion fruit and a hint of chili.Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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So who knows if that’s just sister accounts interacting on social media or a hint to something larger coming down the pipeline in the hair category as well.Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near omen
Cite this Entry
“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omen. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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