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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of omen
Owls With their piercing gaze, silent flight and haunting calls, owls are often seen as omens of death in folklore.
—
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024
These are positive omens for a goal-shy side that has not managed to dispel fears of a fourth successive relegation battle.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
A couple of the bad omens: ◾ Judas, the 13th person at the Last Supper in the Bible, is believed to have betrayed Jesus.
◾ Friday: Several unsettling events occurred on the day, including Jesus' crucifixion.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
They have been associated with bad omens, according to English-language accounts of Japanese folklore.
—James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for omen 
Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Oct. 2024
These are positive omens for a goal-shy side that has not managed to dispel fears of a fourth successive relegation battle.
—Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
A couple of the bad omens: ◾ Judas, the 13th person at the Last Supper in the Bible, is believed to have betrayed Jesus.
◾ Friday: Several unsettling events occurred on the day, including Jesus' crucifixion.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
They have been associated with bad omens, according to English-language accounts of Japanese folklore.
—James Doubek, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for omen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omen
Noun
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His removal makes our nation less secure and is a terrible portent for what's to come.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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The series’ treading-water quality feels like a portent, one that warns us Hollywood’s prequel formula won’t ever dare to change.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
17 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Punk and Emo, the forerunners of today’s worm-mollusks, lived on the dark seafloor amid gardens of sponges, nearly 200 million years before the first dinosaurs emerged on land.—
Kate Golembiewski,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2025
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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
Noun
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Officials said the men weren’t prepared for the weather conditions, which included predictions of snow, sleet and rain.—
Helena Wegner,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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See more of our Oscar nominations predictions here.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
23 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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The thought of our freedom to get outside and mingle being suppressed has a foreshadowing of doom that has smothered the enchantment of snow days.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
22 Jan. 2025
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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
Noun
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Starring Andre Braugher, Yaphet Kotto and Melissa Leo, Homicide ran for more than 100 episodes and seven seasons in the 1990s and is considered by many to be a precursor to Simon’s The Wire.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2025
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This track is a precursor to a series of new releases planned for early 2025, signaling a year of growth and exploration for Sanders.—
Ethan Stone,
USA TODAY,
28 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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Connections is released at midnight in your local time zone and Newsweek will be back tomorrow with another round of hints and tips.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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Just like a little salt in your cake batter doesn't make your cake taste salty, a hint of sweet corn in your macaroni and cheese doesn't transform your beloved side into a dessert.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near omen
Cite this Entry
“Omen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omen. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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