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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of omphalos
While the rest of the world was in its accustomed turmoil, the Press, for which Ireland was the omphalos of the universe, took scant notice.
—
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
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
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Downstairs, meanwhile, the finished basement could become a rec room, billiards room, or fitness center, with a large brick fireplace heating up the space.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
30 Apr. 2026
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At the center are three siblings bound by the legacy their mother built and the unfinished business their father left behind.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The insurgents, who operate at ease, crossing borders and dominating much of the countryside in Mali and Burkina Faso, now feel emboldened to target capital cities.—
Ulf Laessing,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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And the cost for the pool’s ongoing repairs have delayed the Park District’s ability to do many other capital projects in the parks.—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Houston is a mecca for high-calorie delicious meals.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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Mack Lewis Gym, which is a huge boxing mecca.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The city’s brand — a safe, efficient, business-friendly hub for capital, tourism, logistics, and talent — was suddenly under scrutiny from investors, multinational executives, and residents who had chosen to build their businesses and lives there.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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The royal, 43, made the trip to highlight the hub's approach to electrification, innovation and sustainability.—
Helen Murphy,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Solar radiation causes material locked inside the comet's solid nucleus to escape through a process called sublimation, releasing dust and gas into space.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Core players giving their squad a high baseline is always vital in the playoffs, and the Ducks finally have some chance at hanging with other teams’ nuclei thanks to Carlsson and Gauthier’s ongoing emergence.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The growing seasons for navel, Cara Cara, Valencia, and blood oranges mostly all overlap from March through early May.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
27 Apr. 2026
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Hundreds of eyes go wide, taking in the warm sweep of my navel, my hips.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tucked away in a quiet industrial park, the nondescript building had become the locus of ongoing protests since Bovino and his forces had arrived in Illinois.—
A.C. Thompson,
ProPublica,
14 Apr. 2026
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Located 45 minutes outside Seattle, the cinema is a locus of activity for the mountain town.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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