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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Recent Examples of portends
Giants officials were hoping to see more progress with what otherwise portends to be a troublesome issue against major-league pitching.
—
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Brian now realizes that the pilot’s loss of sphincter control portends not a momentary breakdown of bodily integrity but death.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
As with the Dred Scott decision that preceded the Civil War, such a blatantly undemocratic move portends some great cataclysm.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But its rapid scale up portends major changes in the machinery of American health care, swapping manual processes for ones driven by a multitude of AI products.
—Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Brian now realizes that the pilot’s loss of sphincter control portends not a momentary breakdown of bodily integrity but death.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
As with the Dred Scott decision that preceded the Civil War, such a blatantly undemocratic move portends some great cataclysm.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But its rapid scale up portends major changes in the machinery of American health care, swapping manual processes for ones driven by a multitude of AI products.
—Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends
Verb
-
Immediately, Stagg clashes with Krick over forecasting methodology – Krick predicts clear skies for an ideal invasion morning, but Stagg differs strongly.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
The report also predicts even more enrollment decline in the years to come.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Use a commercial preventive spray that promises to clean and kill algae and prevent it from returning.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
16 May 2026
-
But the next evolution promises the biggest step forward yet.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Surveys show a majority of potential travelers are interested in American history, and that visitation to national parks is up 18% so far this year, which bodes well for a state with a patriotic vibe and several parks and monuments.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
-
Surveys show a majority of potential travelers are interested in American history, and that visitation to national parks is up 18% so far this year, which bodes well for a state with a patriotic vibe and several parks and monuments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
-
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If Billy, who wears a turban and caftan in a few scenes, calls to mind Norma Desmond of Sunset Boulevard, Schoenbrun directly assures you that that is not an accident.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Ford, 5-day Options in Ford skewed heavily bullish, with more than five times as many calls trading as puts and more than twice as many calls bought as sold.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
What that foretells for keeping that split career ongoing into the future remains to be told.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
From the Russian perspective, all of this lines up with Europe’s history and foretells its destiny.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The rehearsal augurs Starship’s coming test flight—its 12th—which will mark the first time the latest version of vehicle is put through its paces.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
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But some parishioners remain optimistic that this period of intense hardship finally augurs the end of the regime.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, this guy reads every single online comment while complaining about the consequences of his actions.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
-
The result is a slate that reads less as a national showcase than as a meeting point for production models, sensibilities and markets.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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