as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
during the Vietnam War the university's campus effectively became the area's omphalos for antiwar activity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of omphalos
In front of me was a black ovoid stone, known as the omphalos, set on the spot in Greek mythology where two eagles loosed by Zeus crossed paths at the earth’s nexus.
—
Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
Zeus marked the spot with a stone called the omphalos (navel), to signify the location’s centrality.
—National Geographic, 12 Mar. 2019
Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
While the temples have crumbled, seeing the omphalos gave me goose bumps, and left me awe-struck over Delphi’s sublime place in history.
—Liz Alderman, New York Times, 9 July 2019
Zeus marked the spot with a stone called the omphalos (navel), to signify the location’s centrality.
—National Geographic, 12 Mar. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for omphalos
Noun
-
Some had been in the center for weeks, others for months.—
Brent McDonald,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
The Black Sabbath singer's coffin was driven along Broad Street in the city center.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
The Consequential Consensus Whether prophetic or destined for technology's unfulfilled promises museum, the San Francisco Consensus is already redirecting capital flows and strategic priorities.—
Arafat Kabir,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
In 1943: Allied forces, led by U.S. Gen. George S. Patton, successfully captured Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily and a strategic nexus for the Allied invasion of mainland Italy during World War II.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
For the past few years, Lilly has made news by driving large-scale investments in the LEAP Innovation District, billed as a future manufacturing and tech mecca in Lebanon, Indiana.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
-
As Almeyda makes her journey towards this elusive mecca, both the idea of Palmares and Almeyda’s journey toward it feel like hallucinatory visions: Vibrantly conjured, indeed mythic in intention and impact.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
For many years, Puerto Rico served as a hub of pharmaceutical manufacturing for the United States.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
-
And true to that mission, the stall has become a community hub, a place for conversation and for people to reconnect with books and literature.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
McLaurin would instantly become Allen's top target and perfectly augment the versatile Khalil Shakir and developing Keon Coleman to form the nucleus of a passing attack that has potential rate among the best in the league.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
In mid-March, while still in Gonzales with what would become the nucleus of the San Jacinto army, Sam Houston concluded that a retreat into deep East Texas provided his best chance of success.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Men should cover their bodies from the navel to the knees — while women must cover their entire body aside from face and hands.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
24 July 2025
-
Larijani said a drone might hit Trump in the navel, in what appeared to be a light-hearted remark during a discussion about the merits of Iranian military technology compared with the U.S.—
Brendan Cole
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
So, there’s the concept of locus of control that factors in here.—
Chris "Bulldog" Collins,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
One such model, attuned to thousands of genetic loci, can already predict adult height.—
Siddhartha Mukherjee,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share