as in to indicate
to serve as a sign or symptom of the humor in his writing is never cruel, and betokens a warm and compassionate heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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 betoken Its arrival betokened a more gentrified, sanitized Village — a place of $73 million townhouses and celebrity brunches. New York Times, 7 May 2025 The Wiseman reference betokens a certain seriousness on the part of the creators, an awareness that people might be watching who know a thing or two about the subject. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 Those acts betoken a more significant change. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025 Ted Kennedy’s 31% in Iowa and 37% in New Hampshire in 1980 betokened a long and bitter campaign for Jimmy Carter. Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 While many stations have had their tiles replaced, the tiles at those two are original (dating from 1910 and 1906, respectively), betokened by their rich luster and fine cracks, like those seen in oil paintings. Andrew Martin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for betoken
Verb
  • The two companies remain in talks, although neither company indicated when customers can expect programming to resume.
    Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Whenever the data clearly indicates that one alternative is superior to all the others — but never before that point — a scientific revolution is likely to follow.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Working from top to bottom means debris from the top will land on a dirty floor instead of a clean one.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Doing so would mean advancing the clocks forward an hour for the whole year, so that the sun would appear to rise and set an hour later in both the summer and in the winter.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to Accenture’s 2025 Pulse of Change report, 27% of organizations are already investing in AI agents across multiple parts of their enterprises, signifying the real value AI is creating.
    Daniel Kendzior, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
  • While the northern portion of the eyewall began moving ashore earlier on Tuesday morning, landfall signifies the moment when a hurricane's center crosses the shore onto land.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Betoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/betoken. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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