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
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
Weinstein’s thuggish joke was just one portent of the edgy, borderline sinister air that permeated the party from the very beginning.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
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
Weinstein’s thuggish joke was just one portent of the edgy, borderline sinister air that permeated the party from the very beginning.
—Scott Huver, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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This is, in part, explained by the institutional memory of the competition’s forerunner — the Intercontinental Cup — and the legendary battles of a bygone era.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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Another forerunner of today’s scene is Ansedonia, a hillside community of upscale homes near Capalbio that in the 1960s became popular with creative types from the Italian capital.—
Lee Marshall,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This biological truth has become my personal miracle.—
Stixx Mathews,
Essence,
13 June 2025
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The Panthers had their own miracle on ice on Sam Reinhart’s sharp-angle goal from the left that found its way inside the net with 19.5 seconds left in regulation as a crowd ready to file out dejected erupted with sonic joy.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The films are filled with little omens like this, both blatant and subtle — though usually blatant.—
Kellina Moore,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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Such spectral doppelgängers stalk the living as grim omens of impending death.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
Noun
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The reentry of space objects has been a vexing problem since the beginning of the space age, McKnight told Space.com, because there are at least three physical phenomena that all have large uncertainties.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
23 June 2025
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Measurements at the Large Hadron Collider have been stymied by one of the most central phenomena of the quantum world.—
Matt von Hippel,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Cravats were a precursor to the modern necktie, which emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century.—
Kristopher Fraser,
Robb Report,
20 June 2025
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Real Madrid were among the favorites to win the first-of-its-kind tournament, which is a precursor to next year’s FIFA World Cup.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Why Health Plans and Providers Haven’t Solved This Many wonder: why haven’t health insurers or large providers solved this problem?—
Stephen Wunker,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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While the river alone is worth a visit, one of the park’s main attractions is an incredible natural wonder that’s a little off the main path.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
Noun
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Their Unicorn popsicle may be an element of subtle foreshadowing for the rapidly growing company.—
Alexandra York,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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There was no foreshadowing of Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury on May 3 or Bregman’s severe quad injury on May 23, one that will keep him out for several weeks.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
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In there, our scientists and chemical engineers are creating the wow factor of the brand, those chemical engineering marvels that cause color and creative experiences for our consumers.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Once a desert journey guided by revelation, the Hajj has become a logistical marvel, and the new policies mark some of the most significant shifts in its 1,400-year history.—
Juwayriah Wright,
Time,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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