1
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in miracle
something extraordinary or surprising
a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portent
Khrushchev wasn’t content, however, with these favorable portents.
—
John Lewis Gaddis, Foreign Affairs, 7 June 2024
And the portents were not just in Henderson’s and Nuzzo’s paper.
—David Zweig, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Matthew stresses royalty, prefacing the birth with heavenly portents; afterward, Magi bear royal gifts to a future king.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
But the attacks could have been interpreted very differently: as a horrific case of blowback and a portent of resistance to U.S. hegemony.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for portent
John Lewis Gaddis, Foreign Affairs, 7 June 2024
And the portents were not just in Henderson’s and Nuzzo’s paper.
—David Zweig, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Matthew stresses royalty, prefacing the birth with heavenly portents; afterward, Magi bear royal gifts to a future king.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
But the attacks could have been interpreted very differently: as a horrific case of blowback and a portent of resistance to U.S. hegemony.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 17 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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The killer is a man who, for all his delusions, pokes at the other men’s complacency and domesticity — making this thriller a forerunner of everything from Easy Rider to The Hitcher to Collateral. 20.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Here is a look at some of the most likely forerunners to serve as the 267th pope, according to public reporting.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The movie plays the hits: Jesus’s birth in a Bethlehem stable; miracles including walking on water and the feeding of the 5,000; the crucifixion and resurrection.—
Chris DeVille,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
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States would be responsible for them, and—miracle of miracles—state and federal agencies actually agreed on how to manage grizzlies after ESA protections end.—
Christine Peterson,
Wired News,
5 July 2025
Noun
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For England head coach Lee Carsley, positive omens surrounded him before this summer’s Under-21 European Championship had even begun.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Every morning, my phone screen lights up to more ill omens.—
Jayson Greene,
Time,
17 June 2025
Noun
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When food costs soared during COVID, there was hope the phenomenon would be temporary — something people would weather and then regard as an unfortunate blip, like the runs on toilet paper or our collective obsession with sourdough starters.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
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This phenomenon is more science than stigma, experts say.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
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Chinese authorities have since controlled a number of these precursor chemicals.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
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As a precursor of sorts for CBS stalwart Survivor (which returns for its 49th edition on September 24), Big Brother is the perfect reality appetizer before the ultimate main course.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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These woven wonders are sure to spark a little joy in your accessories closet—with just the right dose of seasonal cheer.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
11 July 2025
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The combination of mechanics and electronics to extract every nuance from the grooves of a vinyl pressing is a wonder of engineering and enjoying a renaissance in the age of digital music.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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That weakness could be a foreshadowing of the inflation to come.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and shared a foreshadowing of Judas’ betrayal at the Garden of Gethsemane.—
Chris Sims,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the coming weeks, a trio of celestial marvels will grace our skies, including a total lunar eclipse, partial solar eclipse and dual visibility of Venus.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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The three enormous fiberglass sharks were technical marvels, but designed for freshwater.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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