as in premonition
a feeling that something bad will happen
a nagging presentiment of danger
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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.
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Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
Noun
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That premonition rings true when his parents (Tara Buckman, Geoff Hansen) are slaughtered by a carjacker dressed as Old Saint Nick himself (Charles Dierkop) just hours later, condemning the toddler into further moral compass trauma at an orphanage run by a domineering Mother Superior nun from Hell.Huntley Woods, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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The boy tries to warn his family about his nocturnal premonitions, but when nobody takes him seriously, the boy must face the beast on his own.John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The metal casing adds a substantial feel, while their portable size is perfect for on-the-go use, easily slipping into a tote, duffle, or Dopp kit.Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2025
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The school is a hub of the community and big source of the small-town feel that made the Palisades feel like such a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the industry.Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Two donors traveling with the program faced a deeper fear, grappling with the reality that their home in the fire zone might not withstand the flames — a fear later confirmed.Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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The bitcoin price dropped to around $92,000 per bitcoin, restarting a sell-off that had lost steam earlier this week amid fears of a looming bitcoin price crash.Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Virgil Thew, 47, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide in suspicion of fatally shooting a 33-year-old woman and two girls, ages 12 and 13, at a home in New Lisbon, Wis., authorities said.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025
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While officials have yet to confirm whether arson is responsible for the widespread fires, suspicions of intentional ignition have circulated widely on social media.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Organizational dysfunction, the most crucial worry.Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Allowing just nine points to the Minnesota Vikings was a tremendous leap forward; the only worry is if the bye week will cool down what might just be the best offense in the league.Fox News Staff, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Mid- to late-cycle expansions don’t need to draw fuel from a deep reservoir of fear and foreboding, the way early-cycle recoveries do.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
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His aunts offered us tortillas to warm our hands while his uncle expressed dark forebodings about our chances of success.Kayla Aletha Welch, Longreads, 19 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near presentiment
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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