Thesaurus results for PORTENT

portent

noun

ˈpȯr-ˌtent

Definition of portent

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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 portent In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain. — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 That Mann and his daughter, at a posh Frankfurt hotel party, glimpse so many remnants of the Nazi era — including Erika’s ex-husband, who collaborated with the regime — is another portent of darkness. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 May 2026 Hurley says there are already portents of future protests against SpaceX’s plan, sparked by its lofting just 10,000 Starlink satellites so far into low Earth orbit. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 The company’s example was seen by many as a portent of the AI future. — Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent

Noun

Dubbed the ‘American Turtle’ for its appearance, the submarine made three attempts to blow up British ships without success, but is considered the forerunner of modern submarines.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of forerunner

Noun

Buy for stress relief, muscle recovery and enforced unplugged time, not for miracle detox, and weight temperature performance and material safety above price.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Though Rome was not convinced (Columbus had not, to anyone’s knowledge, performed any miracles), in 1892, Pope Leo XIII did issue a special encyclical calling on all clergy in the Americas and in Europe to hold a special Mass each Columbus Day.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of miracle

Noun

While the particularly large number of closing colleges in Vermont may seem a bad omen for an effort to open a new one, Holcombe said experiencing the problem has made the state that much more focused on it.

— Jon Marcus, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Hopefully that is not an omen for a wildly inflated price on the top models.

— Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of omen

Noun

Social media commentary on Heated Rivalry exploded after the series launch, conquering my Facebook page like no other pop culture phenomenon before it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
The phenomenon extends beyond football — or Swift, for that matter.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of phenomenon

Noun

As far back as the 1950s, the Dutch embryologist Peter Nieuwkoop argued that the human brain’s precursor cells were all identical in the ectoderm.

— Mike McRae September 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026
In June, the co-founder of the citizen watchdog group, DeFlock Idaho, Tyler Cain, filed a pair of tort claims against the cities of Caldwell and Wilder — civil claims which act as possible precursors to lawsuits.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of precursor

Noun

Back in the series premiere, the Hal-o-gram’s first words serve as cheeky foreshadowing for the big reveal that ends that episode (aka revealing Hal’s dead body).

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Sep. 2026
What detracts from the film is the clumsily emphatic foreshadowing of a dramatic plot turn, which is pretty much spelled out by an alarm company technician who sells Miguel on the wisdom of upgrading to a next-level home security system.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of foreshadowing

Noun

This, too, is a marvel of the modern Jewish state – the unusual multitasking of commuting and worshipping.

— Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026
Thousands had come to watch that night and marvel at the temporary lights illuminating the field.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of marvel

Browse Nearby Words

portends

portent

portentous

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“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of portent

noun

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