as in listened
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing
young people would do well to read this wise and witty book and harken to its message
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Recent Examples of harkened
The look harkened back to her leggy ensemble at the 2012 Oscars.
—
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The panel harkened back to 2001, when former Mayor Rich Crotty convened a similar group to review the jail.
—Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2025
And Jimmy Kimmel pranked Guillermo in a way that also harkened to older, meaner prank TV.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
His suit featured four-bar motifs, which harkened back to the label’s men’s resort 2024 collection.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025
The Legislature’s pushback has harkened back to a time in which lawmakers more regularly exercised their power against the governor.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Fewer songs have harkened a triumphant fist-in-the-air before or since, an iconic ’80s song to open and close one of the most iconic ’80s films.
—Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
No matter what the fashion direction of these performers was, the looks harkened back to their signature sounds—creating singular moods for their shows that transported audiences through clothes.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The panel harkened back to 2001, when former Mayor Rich Crotty convened a similar group to review the jail.
—Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2025
And Jimmy Kimmel pranked Guillermo in a way that also harkened to older, meaner prank TV.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
His suit featured four-bar motifs, which harkened back to the label’s men’s resort 2024 collection.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025
The Legislature’s pushback has harkened back to a time in which lawmakers more regularly exercised their power against the governor.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Fewer songs have harkened a triumphant fist-in-the-air before or since, an iconic ’80s song to open and close one of the most iconic ’80s films.
—Spin Editors, SPIN, 21 Jan. 2025
No matter what the fashion direction of these performers was, the looks harkened back to their signature sounds—creating singular moods for their shows that transported audiences through clothes.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harkened
Verb
-
No matter how sad their stories are, how awful, hearing from people whose voices are rarely listened to is exquisitely cathartic.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
While the girls at his high school listened to MTV stars like Britney Spears, the boys followed nu metal bands such as Korn—though DeVille never fully connected with that music’s rageful essence.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
One of those bets was £115 but it was heard the same person had placed almost £1,000 on the corners market of a fixture not involving Paqueta just two days earlier.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Putin cannot be heard speaking clearly in Russian in the CCTV clip.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harkened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harkened. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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