as in leader
one that takes the lead or sets an example
the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections
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Recent Examples of bellwether
The recent verdict against Meta and Google is being treated as a bellwether trial, meaning, according to legal experts, it’s meant to test how thousands of similar lawsuits could play out.
—
Emma Withrow, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
And some analysts warn that these platforms may be a bellwether for a looming crisis of trust in financial markets — or worse.
—Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
Vigo County is used to some national attention as a bellwether, correctly voting for the presidential winner in all but two elections since 1888, but this year is different.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
The trend of Dominguez's shooting being a bellwether for the team continued in the postseason.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bellwether
Emma Withrow, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
And some analysts warn that these platforms may be a bellwether for a looming crisis of trust in financial markets — or worse.
—Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
Vigo County is used to some national attention as a bellwether, correctly voting for the presidential winner in all but two elections since 1888, but this year is different.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
The trend of Dominguez's shooting being a bellwether for the team continued in the postseason.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bellwether
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwether
Noun
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Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch visits the Well-Safe Protector Oil Rig at Aberdeen's South Harbour, on March 30, 2026 in Aberdeen, Scotland.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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Lawmakers took up the issue Tuesday, considering the challenges city and county leaders face trying to balance economic opportunity with environmental impacts.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died Thursday of prostate cancer in Pennsylvania, according to his lawyer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Apr. 2026
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Other exhibits highlight the musical roots of rock and roll, going deep on both early pioneers and legends of the genre (there are specific areas dedicated to Janis Joplin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix).—
Paul J. Heney,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bellwether.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwether. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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