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
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portent
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
If that is the case, the Ring Nebula could be a portent of what awaits Earth in around 5 billion years when the sun runs out of fuel for nuclear fusion and puffs out to become a red giant.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
-
Las Damas was founded in May 1948 and put on the Beachcomber’s Carnival, a forerunner of the Sunset Beach Art Festival, in July of that year.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
7 May 2026
-
The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Noun
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But without the enormously impactful Doncic, his task has proven too tenuous, his responsibilities too unwieldy, his miracle too unworkable.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
To me, this is kind of a miracle.—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned yesterday that gas prices could stay above $3 per gallon until next year, a bad omen for consumers already feeling the pinch of higher costs.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps someday the sound of horseshoes to pavement will serve as some kind of omen to the city’s future residents.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For Reykjavik native Gulla Jónsdóttir, the Aurora Borealis phenomena, molten-red erupting volcanoes, black sand shores and hot water grottoes were part of everyday life growing up.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
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Previously, in 2021, the Pentagon published a report investigating UAP that found no evidence linking such phenomena to aliens or extraterrestrial activity.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The missive, which could be a precursor to a lawsuit, opens another avenue of attack against the controversial $111-billion deal, which would transform the smaller Paramount into an industry titan.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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And then, thanks to the precursors to the storm that ultimately ended the first round early — the wind, above all else — the weather made the last few shots on the course brutal.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The series is not just a chronicle of the planet’s wonders but a specific act of historical homage.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Food and drink Mostrador, Marram’s singular food concept, is an elevated counter service spot with Uruguayan flair (no wonder, as it is helmed by an Uruguayan team that knows a thing or two about fantastic beach food).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Noun
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With Hokum’s foreshadowing of a downbeat conclusion — and considering the rest of McCarthy’s filmography — Ohm’s survival feels unlikely.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
His comments contained a bit of foreshadowing.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Now, the annual weekend Pennsylvania Firefly Festival celebrates their presence and creates excitement surrounding the late-June marvel.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
-
Under his leadership, Apple became not just a product company but an operational machine and a supply chain marvel.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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