HEARKENS BACK (TO) Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

hearkens back (to)

verb

variants or harkens back (to)

present tense third-person singular of hearken back (to)

as in remembers

to bring back to mind an elderly man who liked to hearken back to "the good old days"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hearkens back (to)

Verb

The stains, her mother remembers, were caused by chocolate syrup from a chocolate fountain, strawberries, tequila, catered Mexican food from their favorite restaurant — all from the wedding reception.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Kalinowski also vividly remembers the first of Reid Williams’ interceptions this season.

— Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of remembers

Verb

In the opening pages of his book, How to Save the Media, McKenzie recalls drinking whiskey at the Chelsea Hotel alongside former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, who now publishes the popular Fresh Hell newsletter on Substack.

— Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Sharon Horgan recalls writing the Youth ending and how a UTI saved it.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of recalls

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.

Browse Nearby Words

hearkens

hearkens back (to)

hearkens (to)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hearkens back (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hearkens%20back%20%28to%29. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hearkens back (to)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes