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
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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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The phenomenon of retailers hosting coffee shops isn’t exactly new, as anyone who’s ever been to a Starbucks inside of a Target can tell you.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
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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Organizations can measure psychological safety data as a precursor to inclusion.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Washington said the firms funneled money to Chinese firms that produce the precursors for fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that has stoked a drug epidemic in the US.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
27 June 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 15 Jul. 2025.
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