as in herald
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
her father's successful job interview was seen as a harbinger of better times to come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to herald
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the hope that the housing slump does not harbinger a general economic recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harbinger
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
The Red Sox were hoping his outstanding postseason performance — capped by a strikeout to end the World Series — was a harbinger of better things to come.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Could this Category 5 storm – among the earliest on record – be a harbinger of a potentially catastrophic season to come?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Sterling told me that encountering the internet critter in real life struck him as a significant harbinger.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harbinger
Noun
Each season has its own cultural harbinger — modern-day versions of Demeter, Eurus, or Boreas — who symbolize a turning tide in time’s great march.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
The Red Sox were hoping his outstanding postseason performance — capped by a strikeout to end the World Series — was a harbinger of better things to come.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
Could this Category 5 storm – among the earliest on record – be a harbinger of a potentially catastrophic season to come?
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Sterling told me that encountering the internet critter in real life struck him as a significant harbinger.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harbinger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbinger
Noun
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Pic heralds from Deadpool and John Wick director David Leitch and Bullet Train producer Kelly McCormick’s 87North, and Bill Bindley and Mike Karz’s Gulfstream Pictures (Upgraded), which financed the movie.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
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Chinese research ships often trespass into Exclusive Economic Zones, and are now seen as a herald to a sovereignty challenge.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Opening with ominous footage of electrical towers and power lines trembling in high winds, the film swiftly foreshadows the disaster with drone shots of small towns surrounded by miles of forest.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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Dido’s wonderfully operatic dying curse on her former lover foreshadows the future wars between her people and the descendants of the treacherous Trojans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The reactor is the forerunner to the Aalo Pod, a 50-megawatt modular power plant designed specifically for data centers.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2025
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Bittler has been with Paramount (and its forerunner Viacom) for some 25 years, most recently as executive vp communications for the company’s kids and family division, including Nickelodeon, Awesomeness and kids and family series at Paramount+.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bregman has been a key player for the team, but FanSided's Chris Landers predicts Bregman will not be back on the Red Sox next year.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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Only 1 in 5 doctors accurately predicted their patients’ out-of-pocket costs, according to a 2021 JAMA investigation.—
Dr. Jill Grimes,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Events once considered rare—like the 2003 Northeast blackout that hit 50 million people—are now seen as precursors of larger disruptions.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Armani’s foray into the food and beverage world in 1998 served as a precursor to his interior design endeavors but greatly established his design vision.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That implies an attractive 40% upside from current levels.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Leerink's price target of $77 implies shares could surge 119% from Monday's close.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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According to the Mayo Clinic, the surgery involves cutting away thin layers of the skin until there are no signs of cancer.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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There are early signs that Alonso will bring the best out of him.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Andersen’s story may have prefigured this moment, although no major actor in the war wants to be the boy.—
MICHAEL KIMMAGE,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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This early embrace of mechanical rhythm prefigured what would later become a foundation of hip-hop and electronic music.—
Jose Valentino Ruiz,
The Conversation,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harbinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbinger. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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