as in leaders
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 bellwethers
Virginia’s off-year races are viewed as critical bellwethers of the electorate’s mood ahead of the midterms.
—
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Furthermore, big banks — bellwethers for economic activity — such as JPMorgan Chase, Citi and Goldman Sachs, beat earnings expectations, suggesting that fundamentals are still sound.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
The downtown Hyatt and Sheraton — two bellwethers for hotels in the area — were booked 100%, and more than 95%, respectively, Testa said.
—Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Still, pundits and political observers are watching both races in Virginia and New Jersey as potential bellwethers of the national mood, though candidate quality and local issues play significant roles.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 27 Sep. 2025
Apple and Samsung collectively account for roughly 35% of phones shipped globally, according to the International Data Corporation — and as the two leading smartphone makers, they are seen as bellwethers for the industry.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
One of the most striking bellwethers of how education is evolving is MITx’s MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Icebergs are bellwethers of environmental changes.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025
What To Watch For Large tech companies, like Meta and Microsoft, often serve as industry bellwethers, setting workforce and strategic trends that smaller companies and startups subsequently emulate.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Furthermore, big banks — bellwethers for economic activity — such as JPMorgan Chase, Citi and Goldman Sachs, beat earnings expectations, suggesting that fundamentals are still sound.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
The downtown Hyatt and Sheraton — two bellwethers for hotels in the area — were booked 100%, and more than 95%, respectively, Testa said.
—Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Still, pundits and political observers are watching both races in Virginia and New Jersey as potential bellwethers of the national mood, though candidate quality and local issues play significant roles.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 27 Sep. 2025
Apple and Samsung collectively account for roughly 35% of phones shipped globally, according to the International Data Corporation — and as the two leading smartphone makers, they are seen as bellwethers for the industry.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
One of the most striking bellwethers of how education is evolving is MITx’s MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management.
—Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Icebergs are bellwethers of environmental changes.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025
What To Watch For Large tech companies, like Meta and Microsoft, often serve as industry bellwethers, setting workforce and strategic trends that smaller companies and startups subsequently emulate.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwethers
Noun
-
Charismatic and successful military leaders like Douglas MacArthur, who refused to follow President Harry Truman’s orders during the Korean War, will always hold considerable power due to the prestige and dominance that militaries bring.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
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Hoping to attract steam engines and gunpowder manufacturers, Delaware’s leaders could scarcely have imagined that, a century later, the ‘Delaware Inc’ model would serve as the foundation for smartphones, search engines and electric cars.—
Jan Hammer,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Swiss start-up FinalSpark is one of the pioneers in this field.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
-
D’Angelo found power in this duality, smashing the barriers between the spiritual and the secular, as had so many Black music pioneers before him.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellwethers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwethers. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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