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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 portends For millions of individuals and businesses who rely on professional preparers, the answer portends a frightening prospect if the return preparer is dishonest. — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 30 June 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 Regardless, Canadian space boosters say the launch portends more good things to come from a country eager to develop its own orbital lift capability. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 12 June 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 Democrats face an optimistic midterm outlook based on historical patterns showing the party out of power gains substantial House seats and Trump’s approval rating hovering around 40%, well below the 50% threshold that portends political trouble for a president’s party. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends

Verb

Big Deal Gartner predicts that by 2028, 20% of finance organizations will no longer hire or develop non-digitally literate talent.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 July 2026
While its independence from general intelligence is debated, practical intelligence significantly predicts real-world success.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of predicts

Verb

For scientists, the milestone promises the enticing potential of unlocking secrets of the universe that have long remained elusive.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Now artificial intelligence promises to automate, augment, or dramatically reduce the need for many of the same tasks.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 7 July 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

If travel, study, or a larger goal calls, align the timing and budget before moving forward.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Those grants, up to $600,000 and awarded on a competitive basis, will be doled out through what a budget trailer bill calls the Pathways to Bilingual Teaching Program.

— Charlie Borla, Oc Register, 9 July 2026

Definition of calls

Verb

Each label contains its own taxonomies of taste and cultural prestige, targeting the demographics most drawn to the status markers the badge foretells.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 July 2026
What that foretells for keeping that split career ongoing into the future remains to be told.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 15 May 2026

Definition of foretells

Verb

Every format—before anyone reads a single word on the ad—is already communicating something about the brand behind it.

— Adam Salacuse, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
The label reads like a pantry inventory egg whites, dates and nuts and the protein comes from egg whites, a complete protein source.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of reads

Browse Nearby Words

portending

portends

portent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of portends

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on portends

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

implacable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes