herald 1 of 2

Definition of heraldnext

herald

2 of 2

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
The movie heralds from FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, and Assemble Media. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026 New studies, however, clearly show that medical marijuana is not nearly as effective as the pro-marijuana lobby heralds. Mike Gimbel, Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Pines at Woodloch Hawley, Pennsylvania A perennial family-favorite getaway often heralded as one of the best all-inclusive family resorts in the country, The Pines at Woodloch (formerly known as Woodloch Resort) sits along Lake Teedyuskung in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026 The owner of a long-standing and once heralded senior housing project is seeking to have the age restriction removed, telling town zoning officials such a move is in keeping with shifts in the Connecticut housing market. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for herald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald
Noun
  • Housing advocates successfully lobbied the City Council Thursday night to shift away from plans to limit the number of bus stops to four, opening up the possibility that the law, California Senate Bill 79, could apply to as many as 52 bus stops.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Signs were posted this week warning of a disruption and preservation advocates took the government to court as debris dumped there from the White House East Wing demolition tested positive for lead.
    Steven Sloan, Fortune, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Then come the sporadic blossoms of the ivy over the next few weeks, and every new homestand is a harbinger for what lies ahead.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
  • Torras fears today's tighter credit market could be a harbinger of how a more systemic credit unraveling would actually look.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Bathrooms are expansive and clad in white marble, foreshadowing the scale of the sublime spa across the street.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The moment was foreshadowed a week earlier when Gritty posted a photo on TikTok of the Penguins’ mascot.
    Ryan Brennan April 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Diamondback Energy Independent oil and natural gas company Diamondback Energy announced solid first-quarter results on May 4 and raised its full-year production guidance.
    TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 10 May 2026
  • The specific location, date and time will be announced by CIF-SS on Monday.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • The entrenchment of those supply chains may have been underestimated by proponents of nearshoring and onshoring, while the impacts of higher tariffs may have been overestimated.
    Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
  • Despite that distinct lack of a firm commitment to raising new revenues, proponents of finding new revenue sources to replace federal healthcare cuts cheered the Assembly proposal and described it as aligned with the Senate.
    Andrew Graham May 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Las Damas was founded in May 1948 and put on the Beachcomber’s Carnival, a forerunner of the Sunset Beach Art Festival, in July of that year.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 7 May 2026
  • The brand was also a forerunner with exclusive collaborations.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Many eclipse chasers ignored South America's total solar eclipse in 2019, which was short and predicted by some to be cloudy, for a slightly longer, supposedly clearer one in 2020 in almost the same place.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
  • Green had predicted on his podcast once the season ended that Kerr wouldn’t return.
    Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Again, the show is insistent on proclaiming Val’s greatness without putting in the work.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026
  • The ruling, upheld by the state Supreme Court, prompted the mayor, who proclaimed at the time that failure was not an option, to pursue other options to make the project’s tall buildings possible.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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