Thesaurus results for HARBINGER

Q: How is the word 'harbinger' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of harbinger are forerunner , herald , and precursor . While all these words mean "one that goes before or announces the coming of another," harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event. // their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season // the herald of a new age in medicine

Q: When would 'forerunner' be a good substitute for 'harbinger'?

While the synonyms forerunner and harbinger are close in meaning, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage. // the blockade was the forerunner of war

Q: When could 'precursor' be used to replace 'harbinger'?

The meanings of precursor and harbinger largely overlap; however, precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another. // 18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

harbinger 1 of 2

noun

ˈhär-bən-jər

Definition of harbinger

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

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harbinger

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word harbinger distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of harbinger are forerunner, herald, and precursor. While all these words mean "one that goes before or announces the coming of another," harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event.

their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season

the herald of a new age in medicine

When would forerunner be a good substitute for harbinger?

While the synonyms forerunner and harbinger are close in meaning, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

When could precursor be used to replace harbinger?

The meanings of precursor and harbinger largely overlap; however, precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another.

18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

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 harbinger

Noun

If the week 1 drubbing at LSU was a harbinger of doom for Dabo Swinney at Clemson, what does his stock as a coaching candidate look like? — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 Democratic leadership’s demand for party discipline collided this week with promises that the caucus has enough room for socialists and moderates, a harbinger of trouble next year if Democrats win the majority. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

This could harbinger a new age of electro-tech in Asia. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for harbinger

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbinger

Noun

This increasingly seamless connection between runway collections and store stock heralds a new meaning for commercial, repositioning the role of the runway.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
The project heralds from Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the four co-directors behind 2025 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of herald

Noun

Dubbed the ‘American Turtle’ for its appearance, the submarine made three attempts to blow up British ships without success, but is considered the forerunner of modern submarines.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of forerunner

Verb

Sullivan has evolved into the stardom predicted for him since his days kicking the ball around with his brothers inside and outside of his northeast Philadelphia home.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
The playoff projections are based on a Monte Carlo simulation, a computation of random sampling used to predict outcomes, of the 2026 season.

— Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of predict

Noun

Then there’s the new electric Jaguar, a machine that inflamed the Internet and became the subject of global controversy when its conceptual precursor was revealed in late 2024.

— Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (also known as October Prime Day) is here, serving as a precursor to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

— Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of precursor

Verb

Truist hiked its Meta Platforms price target to $1,000 from $763, implying almost 35% upside from yesterday's close.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
It was implied that the residency would draw upon multiple bonds that the band has built with the venue, the city, and the surrounding Bay Area fanbase over the years.

— Benjy Eisen, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of imply

Noun

In a sign of how serious the warnings are, dozens of Waffle Houses in the Florida Panhandle were closed, according to the company's website.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
There have been multiple rallies and protests outside of WNBA games, including fans inside arenas holding pro-trans and anti-trans signs.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of sign

Verb

On the city’s West Side, the site of storied clubs such as Silvio’s as well as the Maxwell Street Market, blues musicians developed a style of electric blues in the 1950s that typically included a horn section (prefiguring soul music).

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
Other Black families tried to hold on under the new regime but ultimately found Wilmington untenable and moved north, joining a local exodus that prefigured the Great Migration.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026

Definition of prefigure

Browse Nearby Words

harassments

harbinger

harbingered

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“Harbinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbinger. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of harbinger

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