as in portents
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 omens
In the car, the omens appear to be aligning.
—
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
On the other hand, all these omens popping up so early in the season is an indication there are further twists to come.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
But many Floridians — particularly those who have moved here since 1998 and have no prior experience with wildfires on a massive scale — don’t see these signs and don’t comprehend the omens.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Favourable Winds For The UK Index At the risk of speaking too soon, so far the omens are pretty good.
—John Stepek, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of you may have found a more spiritual connection to the universe, seeing omens, signs, and visions of what was, what is and what could be.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
In ancient Rome, temples and sanctuaries needed clear sight lines for the taking of auspices — interpreting omens from the behavior of birds — and other rituals.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
On the other hand, all these omens popping up so early in the season is an indication there are further twists to come.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
But many Floridians — particularly those who have moved here since 1998 and have no prior experience with wildfires on a massive scale — don’t see these signs and don’t comprehend the omens.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Favourable Winds For The UK Index At the risk of speaking too soon, so far the omens are pretty good.
—John Stepek, Bloomberg, 14 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of you may have found a more spiritual connection to the universe, seeing omens, signs, and visions of what was, what is and what could be.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
In ancient Rome, temples and sanctuaries needed clear sight lines for the taking of auspices — interpreting omens from the behavior of birds — and other rituals.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
The one reason why this centuries-old record of an eclipse exists is due to an ancient belief that celestial events carry omens that were related to events of the time.
—Julian Dossett, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omens
Noun
-
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Fans take their own stabs pro bono, posting to Reddit their predictions for the draft’s first round, or their bespoke guesses for all two hundred and fifty-seven picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The court currently stands at a 9-0 conservative majority, but if Rankin and Jordan were to claim seats, the state could see a 5-4 conservative lead as soon as 2028, according to some predictions.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
During what was billed as the Steel Topping Out ceremony at new Nissan Stadium in November, Goodell was very complimentary of the franchise's facility, and even dropped hints that a Super Bowl could be headed to Nashville someday.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
This House primary in Pennsylvania is giving hints about where the national Democratic Party is headed.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
No affordable wheelchair vans yet, but suggestions, ideas, and genuine well wishes.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
In the search for potential drugs targeting leukemia, the suggestions made by the system were prioritized based on a review by a panel of experts, who had access to the literature Co-Scientist used to formulate its suggestions.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omens. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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