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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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
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While most campaigns historically focused on physical infrastructure, many now include less visible priorities: legal clinics, policy centers, and public interest litigation units.—
Michelle Mbekeani,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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The spacious floor plan has a living room that’ll comfortably fit a couch, coffee table, entertainment center, and even a dining table for hosting.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Perhaps most importantly, the Yankees wouldn't have to give up much prospect capital to add him.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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To account for the value of oceans in decision making, researchers are pushing for countries to adopt what has become known as natural capital accounting.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The century-old hotel is famous for its Spanish colonial revival design, and longtime denizens still proudly reference its history as a mecca of Black music after World War II, when the likes of James Brown and Billie Holiday played its famous club.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
2 June 2025
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Known as a mecca for watersports, everyone pauses to bask in the brilliant purples, pinks, and oranges that splash into the sky as the late afternoon transitions to evening.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Noun
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With more than 300 employees and offices in California, Illinois, Florida, and India — as well as regional hubs in New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Arizona — IDIQ continues to scale its reach while staying rooted in its original vision.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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Known for its poultry slaughterhouses, Gainesville is now a manufacturing hub where startups can find engineers and greenfield sites.—
Patrik Jonsson,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 June 2025
Noun
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That includes atomic mass: lead has 82 protons in the nuclei of its atoms, while gold has 79.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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The team reported that the LHC can produce up to 89,000 gold nuclei per second from lead-lead collisions.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Brand walked past them wearing all black, with a blazer over a pinstriped shirt unbuttoned to his navel, several necklaces and dark sunglasses.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
30 May 2025
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In Hollywood, naked navels were a no-no and specifically outlawed by the censorious Hays Code that policed the studios until 1968.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
Noun
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In fact, shadow is the locus where light, space, and the passage of time converge.—
Alessia Glaviano,
Vogue,
14 May 2025
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The Texas Hill Country AVA also serves as the locus of wine tourism in the state—as well as home base for much of the state’s wine production, despite its distance from the major growing region in the state, the Texas High Plains.—
Colleen C. Myles,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Omphalos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/omphalos. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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