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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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 bellwether Related article Trump’s tariffs are changing the way Americans spend PPI, which serves as a potential bellwether for retail-level inflation in the months ahead, is starting to show some of those pressures. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 15 May 2025 Knowing how much outside handling was encountered can be a bellwether for what such AI might need in real-world usage. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 It is often seen as a bellwether of the economy as a whole. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025 Analysts predict the Memorial Day weekend box office could be a bellwether for a strong summer in movie theaters, with a number of potential blockbusters yet to come. Dawn Chmielewski, USA Today, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for bellwether
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwether
Noun
  • Afraid conditions would only worsen, leaders announced in May 2024 their plans to disassemble the chapel, a national historic landmark and popular wedding venue.
    Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • Listen to this article Chicago police said seven teens were wounded in an overnight shooting at a large gathering in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood after a St. Sabina graduation party, drawing an angry statement from the church’s longtime leader, Father Michael Pfleger.
    Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • The film explores transgender identity and legacy, chronicling the divergent paths of iconic pioneers April Ashley, Amanda Lear and others.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 May 2025
  • Consistent with his other boutiques, the space’s interior incorporates marble and terrazzo, paired with furnishings by celebrated artists like French Art Deco pioneer Jacques Adnet, American designer Edward Wormley and American woodworker and architect George Nakashima.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bellwether.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwether. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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