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
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024
His presentiments had been right, but all those garlic pills and pulse recordings had done nothing to save him.
—Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023
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
During the 1919 scenes she is occasionally stopped in her tracks by presentiments of what’s in store around the corner.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presentiment
Noun
-
The movie’s terrifying dénouement emerges in another seven-minute shot, in which hints and premonitions are transformed into passions and horrors and in which landscape—and, as per the title, a seascape—appear not simply as backdrops but as dramatic and intellectual engines of the story.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Final Destination 5 begins with Sam Lawton (Nicholas D'Agosto) saving his co-worker's lives (and ruining their work retreat) after having a premonition about a bridge collapse.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This is a place to check one’s personal life at the door, and the occasional intrusions from outside feel forced.—
Inkoo Kang,
The New Yorker,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Several of the other bedrooms also have skylights and views of the grounds, as well as spacious closets and private bathrooms finished with rare stones and custom metalwork that give each their own subtle feel.—
Emma Reynolds,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
People often dream of taking that leap, but many are hampered by the fears of what might be.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in a week when a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump raised fears in Kyiv that it was being frozen out of negotiations, with the White House also downplaying the prospects of Ukraine joining NATO.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As doctors tried to treat her, Kate’s parents openly discussed their suspicions that a conspiracy was forming around them – and that medical staff couldn’t be trusted.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN,
15 Feb. 2025
-
More specifically, this circumstance involved a law enforcement agency accessing highly sensitive cell phone data from another jurisdiction in the absence of a warrant, consent, or even any investigation or suspicion of criminal activity on the part of a suspect.—
Nate Anderson,
Ars Technica,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Eventually, optimism and relief won over fears and worries, rallying stocks.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
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Democrats have criticized the group’s reach, expressing worry that Musk has too much control over governmental operations.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Its reappearance on the American scene in the twenty-first century should be taken as a foreboding.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Feb. 2025
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The movie’s very first shot, beautiful yet full of foreboding, finds her swimming in the Atlantic, her peace momentarily disturbed by the roar of a military helicopter overhead.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near presentiment
Cite this Entry
“Presentiment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presentiment. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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