as in to indicate
to serve as a sign or symptom of the humor in his writing is never cruel, and betokens a warm and compassionate heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of betoken Its arrival betokened a more gentrified, sanitized Village — a place of $73 million townhouses and celebrity brunches. New York Times, 7 May 2025 The Wiseman reference betokens a certain seriousness on the part of the creators, an awareness that people might be watching who know a thing or two about the subject. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 Those acts betoken a more significant change. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025 Ted Kennedy’s 31% in Iowa and 37% in New Hampshire in 1980 betokened a long and bitter campaign for Jimmy Carter. Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 While many stations have had their tiles replaced, the tiles at those two are original (dating from 1910 and 1906, respectively), betokened by their rich luster and fine cracks, like those seen in oil paintings. Andrew Martin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betoken
Verb
  • And many Democrats, who polls indicate still believe in Russiagate in significant numbers, likely clapped.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Remember that cognitive difficulty often signals growth, just as physical soreness after exercise indicates muscle development.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In practice, that can mean running the same queries more efficiently in less time and with lower compute costs.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • For planes flying 30,000 feet above sea level or military vehicles traveling through combat zones, that level of reliability can mean the difference between life and death.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This public vitriol signifies a point of no return.
    Khaled Hassan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The women of #MomTok have been in high demand, and Paul’s leading Bachelorette status further signifies that.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Betoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betoken. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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