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
Everything might hinge on these bellwethers of the wider economy, Zandi believes.
—
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
There are a few start-ups and even bellwethers like Qualcomm that are making significant strides in industrial automation and surveillance, but Nvidia’s consistent investment in developer tools is arguably one of the Jetson platform’s strongest differentiators.
—Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 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
Choi predicted that those two IPOs will be bellwethers for their respective markets.
—Sonia Heng, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024
It is often considered as one of the bellwethers for Oscar favorites.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
There are a few start-ups and even bellwethers like Qualcomm that are making significant strides in industrial automation and surveillance, but Nvidia’s consistent investment in developer tools is arguably one of the Jetson platform’s strongest differentiators.
—Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 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
Choi predicted that those two IPOs will be bellwethers for their respective markets.
—Sonia Heng, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024
It is often considered as one of the bellwethers for Oscar favorites.
—Wwd Staff, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwethers
Noun
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The plans and the construction underway have come as welcome news to community leaders who have long been trying to preserve the history of Pan Am.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Government leaders in Montgomery County, Maryland, have set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027, and 100 percent by 2035.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So, building here is an homage to Aspen’s past, a way of honoring the pioneers who helped transform a quiet mountain town into an international destination.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Patient pioneers The first patient to receive a pig kidney at Mass General was 62-year-old Rick Slayman in March 2024.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellwethers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwethers. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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