as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow
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Recent Examples of adumbrate
In between, works by contemporaries complicate superficial ideas about his meteoric genius, and small, delicate drawings teem with an abundance of ideas — paintings never made, thoughts adumbrated then abandoned.
—
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019
Nothing in America’s tepid 19th-century contributions to European classical music adumbrated it; nor did the homely and sometimes hokey popular songs of Stephen Foster.
—Heather Mac Donald, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
The helicopter crash, on the other hand, is a narrative dead end, merely adumbrating the portrait that Mr. Davenport will draw of Mr. Bezos as unflappable.
—Randall Stross, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2018
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019
Nothing in America’s tepid 19th-century contributions to European classical music adumbrated it; nor did the homely and sometimes hokey popular songs of Stephen Foster.
—Heather Mac Donald, National Review, 22 Aug. 2019
The helicopter crash, on the other hand, is a narrative dead end, merely adumbrating the portrait that Mr. Davenport will draw of Mr. Bezos as unflappable.
—Randall Stross, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adumbrate
Verb
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But the right-hander rebounded by striking out the next three hitters, foreshadowing what turned out to be a historic outing.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
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With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
Political,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The analyst is confident about Diamondback's ability to deliver better-than-anticipated performance in periods of strong commodity prices, supported by the company's low-cost structure and lower capital intensity than peers.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
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As Spring springs into Summer, Hollywood hotly anticipates its biggest season when schools are closed and every day can be a See a Movie in a Theater day.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
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The Kamm tail, with its upturned spoiler and flat panel adorned with Ferrari’s signature twin round taillights, is a nod to aerodynamics that prefigures the shape of the Lusso’s spiritual successor, the 275 GTB.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Zeisler predicted that many more entrepreneurs like Chorney will have similar ambitions going forward.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
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The principle holds that neural systems are driven to predict their environment.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Calls for unity imply that there’s a divide, but attendees had varying views on its scope and cause.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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The quote implies that only someone who understands the pinnacle of both the jewelry and art of the Graff, and the horological engineering of the Patek, can appreciate the value of an Aston Martin.—
Tony Leopardo,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Dodgers brought in a live trumpet player to play Diaz’s signature entrance music, heralding the first save situation for the Dodgers’ new closer.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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Paramount’s movie adaptation of the book took more than $100 million globally and heralded the launch of a new screen talent in Norton.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Weeks after slashing his staff by 40%, Jack Dorsey, CEO of payments company Block, foresees middle management’s complete extinction.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch) are foreseen.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adumbrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adumbrate. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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