as in warning
serving as or offering a warning
a moderate tremor that some seismologists have interpreted as a premonitory sign of the catastrophic quake that is inevitable
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Recent Examples of premonitory
Many people feel an unpleasant building sensation before a tic, called a premonitory urge, describing it like an itch that needs to be scratched.
—
Rena Zito,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
There is a premonitory moment, too, in this book that wrings so much drama from so many backdoor meetings.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Rena Zito,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
There is a premonitory moment, too, in this book that wrings so much drama from so many backdoor meetings.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for premonitory
Adjective
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The bureau also will post more warning notices at 750 livestock sale facilities and review other potential changes to federal regulations.
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In response, statistical authorities around the world could do little but issue warning press releases.
Adjective
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And while the formal rules on travel have relaxed, the admonitory official language is unchanged.
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Satire has always had an admonitory function, and besides, some people are so obnoxious that a writer has to slow-walk the reader through their awfulness.
Adjective
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The Statesman reported on their overpopulation last year, serving as a cautionary tale for what can happen when a non-native species gets introduced to the environment.
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In a cautionary tale of what can happen when overloading a young talent, however, injuries severely blighted Ansu’s legacy at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Cite this Entry
“Premonitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/premonitory. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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