PORTENDS Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

portends

verb

present tense third-person singular of portend

as in predicts

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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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 portends Danica Rodmarel, an attorney who has litigated against bail bond corporations in the past, said the decision portends a difficult future for the industry. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The change marks the end of an era in fashion and portends the beginning of another one for Marc Jacobs, the man. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 And then there’s the Ren Faire episode, where a McPoyle brothers’ cameo portends a closing joke so distressing my innocent little brain rejected all the warnings of its arrival. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026 Bozieva believes this approach to business portends the rise of the billion-dollar, one-person business. — Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Iran is not the only Middle Eastern country excluded from the emerging security arrangement that Mecca portends. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 Chairman Kevin Warsh has talked tough on inflation and his creation of task forces to study how the Fed operates seems a measured approach, but portends inaction. — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 24 July 2026 This seemingly portends a trade somewhere down the line, but for now, the Thunder capitalized on a talent tier drop-off ahead of the next group of players. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 24 June 2026 This is a delicate and dicey subject to even bring up, since the industry right now is in the grip of multiple perceptions and anxieties about what AI portends for the future of entertainment. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends

Verb

Why balance predicts lifespan Mike Teater is the director of balance education for Fyzical, a national network of clinics specializing in balance and dizziness.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
The crest - the highest peak of the river's water levels - will reached Morgan County today, the NWS of Indianapolis predicts.

— Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of predicts

Verb

For outdoor workout tracking, Google's latest GPS software promises improved accuracy in tough conditions.

— Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
The other is a former Republican congressman turned Democrat who promises to hit pause on the construction of new data centers.

— Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of promises

Verb

That bodes extremely well for plane spotting out in broad daylight this summer.

— Florence Ion, PC Magazine, 27 June 2026
The Obama Presidential Center opening June 18 also bodes well for tourism, both in burnishing the city’s image and creating a new attraction to draw domestic and international visitors to Chicago, Reynolds said.

— Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026

Definition of bodes

Verb

The backlash to the Barbara decision presages another legal and cultural battle over the meaning of the 14th Amendment and its role in the debate over who is recognized as an American citizen, observers say.

— Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026
But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.

— Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of presages

Verb

Washington and Seoul say their drills are defensive in nature, but North Korea calls them an invasion rehearsal and often reacts with weapons tests.

— Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Diehl calls it one of the oldest tricks in styling, the pairing of something refined against something plain.

— Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of calls

Verb

At Saul's request, the witch summons what appears to be the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel, who foretells Saul's death in battle — raising the question of theodicy, or why an all-powerful God would allow an apparently diabolical act to occur.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Annabeth has grown to care for Percy, but like Thalia, his fate is possibly tied to a prophecy that foretells of him destroying or saving Olympus.

— Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of foretells

Verb

Pintscher, who will succeed current music director Jaime Martín beginning in 2027-28 season, augurs a new era for LACO.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
In the film’s ferocious climax, Jim is shot but escapes with Selena and Hannah, and the story closes (28 days later) back in the countryside as a jet flies over and augurs their rescue.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 June 2026

Definition of augurs

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“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of portends

verb

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