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 Plain old water could be responsible for making plastics harmful to people, according to a new study that portends significant consequences for human health. — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Hao feels that the WWE partnership represents a milestone for ReelShort, and portends well for the future of working with other major brands. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 The Paris presentation portends bigger plans — including a 1,500-square-foot space at legacy department store Printemps, set to open at the end of this month. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 The emergence of Tolle behind them, though, is what portends best for Boston moving forward. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The Dallas Cowboys’ lack of faith in starting right tackle Terence Steele portends a potentially big game Sunday night for Giants top pass rusher Brian Burns. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 The AfD’s victory in weekend German state elections portends huge change for the country, the continent, and the West more broadly. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026 But 160 Leroy portends a future that stretches the definition of what constitutes New York living into hitherto-unknown territory. — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends

Verb

Sabbagh predicts this could transform the space industry from having less than 10 million users of mobile satellite services to being able to reach billions of users.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
In 2027, Whatnot predicts that the Y2K revival will be even flashier than before.

— Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of predicts

Verb

The final sprint promises more fireworks, with both parties summoning their biggest names to Georgia for a showdown that could reshape the state’s political landscape.

— Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 26 Oct. 2026
That's a strange trade-off for a refresh, given that the XM6 promises 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours with ANC off.

— Christian de Looper, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 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

Charlie Kirk's family blamed Utah officials for failing to prevent the conservative activist's assassination at a state university, in a wrongful death notice announced Wednesday that presages a possible lawsuit.

— CBS News, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of presages

Verb

Under that program, utilities aim to raise the total electrical output of existing reactors through what the industry calls plant uprates.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Ian Eagle, a veteran who calls secondary NFL games for CBS Sports, is also believed to have a contract that is set to lapse.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Oct. 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

Although the post-pandemic decline of China was one of the main causes of Lauder’s slowdown in growth in 2023, today the broad demographic scope augurs continued growth.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of augurs

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“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of portends

verb

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