as in premonition
a feeling that something bad will happen
a nagging presentiment of danger
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Example Sentences
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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.
—
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
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
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
Noun
-
Peasants whisper about monsters in the forest, and in the interlude between the wars, Lajos gazes at a house that is burning down and has a premonition of the world-historical destruction to come.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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Our mascot was Pablo Picasso, and Cattelan had an actor walk around with a giant Picasso mask posing for pictures in the pre-iPhone era, an early premonition of the endless selfies.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But candlemania has gripped the world of interior design, as many crave the soft glow and more natural feel of candlelight, and holders become the ideal vehicle for decor expression without breaking the bank (in most cases).—
Francesca Perry,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
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The set is made from memory foam that allows more airflow, so heat doesn’t get trapped as easily, while the breathable cover adds to that cool feel.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Future Hall of Fame QBs are built to block out fear and bury doubt.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to some experts, this paralyzing fear and desperation are factors that scammers exploit to put their criminal schemes into action.—
Albinson Linares,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The elder DeCosta had other suspicions.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The officers had transported the suspect, who had been arrested on suspicion of robbery, to the hospital for observation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Prices surged overnight on worries that the war will affect the flow of crude for a long time.—
Mae Anderson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Wall Street’s strength followed manic swings in the oil market, where prices surged overnight on worries that the Iran war will affect the flow of crude for a long time.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That’s not to say the decisions were easy and lacked a sense of foreboding.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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None more so than her best friend, Liza, who is haunted by the foreboding last words Jane said to her.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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