as in predicted
formal + literary
to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
The distant thunder portended a storm. If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.
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Recent Examples of portended
Martin County’s anti-development history portended a quick and certain rejection by the county commission.
—
Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portended
Verb
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However, the Ulrich plan largely predicted it right, envisioning a district that would absorb all of California’s northern state line with Oregon, stretching to Nevada.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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Her nails, designed by celebrity manicurist Tom Bachik, followed predicted fall trends with a milky pink base and a short cut.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Freixe took the top job and promised to refocus on core businesses, while ruling out major M&A that peer companies have pursued.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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The family friends promised to help Wade find work at a seafood processing plant or on a fish-buying scow.—
Bjorn Dihle,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Viral marketing tactics, coupled with strong social media word-of-mouth, boded well for both films’ success, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore.—
Itzel Luna,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For the high-energy number, which at times resembled a block party and at other times a protest, Carpenter called on a number of drag stars.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
8 Sep. 2025
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Turkey’s best men’s marathoner in Rio was born in Kenya — once named Mike Kipruto Kigen, and now called Kaan Kigen Ozbilen — and two of their three athletes in the women’s marathon originated from Ethiopia.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Philosophers once prophesied that evolution would lead to minds far greater — and stranger — than our own.—
Thomas Moynihan,
Big Think,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portended. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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