herald 1 of 2

herald

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word herald distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of herald are forerunner, harbinger, 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

In what contexts can forerunner take the place of herald?

Although the words forerunner and herald have much in common, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

When is it sensible to use precursor instead of herald?

While in some cases nearly identical to herald, 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 herald
Noun
Thy Kingdom Come’s entrance heralds 10 total appearances for the album’s tracks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025 The show’s camera language has slowly opened up to be more dynamic, more open to movement, more open to the change in society that Season 3 heralds. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
Autumn has draped itself across the northern hemisphere, heralding the onset of longer, darker nights that serve as the perfect backdrop for amateur astronomers looking to explore the wonders of the night sky. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025 Trump in a speech before the Israeli Knesset heralded the ceasefire and hostage release as the latest global conflict to end under his watch. Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for herald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald
Noun
  • Idaho lawmakers and advocates have stressed that their goals are bodily autonomy and informed choice.
    Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Power resources have long been a sticking point for data center opponents and consumer advocates who argue the massive structures will sap energy and lead to higher electric bills for residential consumers.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • These could be harbingers of bigger things to come.
    Big Think, Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
  • That period has coincided with data releases indicating a sharp labor market slowdown, which some observers consider a harbinger of a possible recession.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lee notes that several AI companies have already indicated their ability to flag user activity that appears to foreshadow a crime.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Tellingly, these names belonged to a deceased mother and son, foreshadowing that Willa will eventually become a kind of parent to Bob.
    Robert Daniels, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Her death was announced by General Hospital's executive producer Frank Valentini on the show's Instagram page earlier this year.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Mercedes, which has won eight Constructors’ Championships and nine Drivers’ Championships, announced on Wednesday the team would stick with the pairing for the 2026 season.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Simonds is a proponent of patterned wallpaper, statement lighting, colorful tile, and more.
    Amanda Sims, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Now Guillermo del Toro — cinema’s biggest proponent of big-screen fantasy — has completed his two-and-a-half-hour version, an epic adaptation with a blockbuster budget, a stamp of auteurship, and decades spent ruminating on the relevance of Shelley’s text in the modern era.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Half of those tested had osteoporosis or a forerunner condition, osteopenia.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Compared to their forerunners in the tsarist era, with their party congresses held abroad, their executive committees, and their active recruitment in imperial Russia’s universities, Soviet dissidents remained a comparatively small and informal conglomeration of activists.
    Benjamin Nathans September 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Winter's wrath continues with another cold spell predicted for mid-February.
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Awards pundits predict that both White and Strong will be Oscar contenders for their performances, which have been praised by critics on the film festival circuit.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The insults came after Duffy made a series of public appearances to proclaim NASA's intention of reopening a contract with SpaceX for a moon lander for its upcoming Artemis III mission.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Nevertheless, in the due course of time Truman became as much a fixture to Finney County, Kansas, as are the roadside signs proclaiming its many virtues.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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