Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

harbinger

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of harbinger

one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another

  • her fatherʼs successful job interview was seen as a harbinger of better times to come
Synonyms of harbinger

angel, foregoer, forerunner, herald, outrider, precursor
Words Related to harbinger

foreboder, foreshadower, foretaste, forewarning

advertiser, announcer, blazoner, crier, proclaimer

courier, messenger, runner

augury, auspice, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, omen, portent, prefiguring, presage

mark, sign, symptom

bellwether

Synonym Discussion of harbinger

forerunner, precursor, harbinger, herald mean one that goes before or announces the coming of another. forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.
    • the blockade was the forerunner of war
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 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

harbinger

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of harbinger

to give a slight indication of beforehand

  • the hope that the housing slump does not harbinger a general economic recession
Synonyms of harbinger

adumbrate, forerun, foreshadow, herald, prefigure
Words Related to harbinger

anticipate, foreknow, foresee

forecast, foretell, predict, prognosticate, prophesy

forewarn

augur, bode, forebode (also forbode), portend, presage, promise

allude, connote, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest

Learn More about harbinger

  1. Dictionary: Definition of harbinger Spanish Central: Translation of harbinger Nglish: Translation of harbinger for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of harbinger for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up harbinger? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

millefleur

having a pattern of small flowers

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games