1
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in miracle
something extraordinary or surprising
a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world
Synonyms & Similar 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 portent
As the two settle into their new house, Michael Shanks, the film’s Australian writer-director, pulls an anything-goes series of shocking portents.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
The Dead Zone maintains key big-picture threads from the book and movie — the malevolent rising-star politician, the apocalyptic portent — while taking advantage of its format, succeeding as both a procedural and a long-term story.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
The Dead Zone maintains key big-picture threads from the book and movie — the malevolent rising-star politician, the apocalyptic portent — while taking advantage of its format, succeeding as both a procedural and a long-term story.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
-
While his Late Night forerunner Letterman was probably the comedic polestar of Generation X—gruff, cynical, and biting the hand that fed—O’Brien became a bedrock influence for the next generation of Millennial comics.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The New York Dolls were forerunners of punk, and the band's style -- teased hair, women's clothes and lots of makeup -- inspired the glam movement that took up residence in heavy metal a decade later in bands like Faster Pussycat and Mötley Crüe.—
MARK KENNEDY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The heroic game five effort from the Celtics felt like the start of a miracle.—
Tom Rende,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
-
To top that, 2001 Miami would’ve needed to obliterate everything on its schedule, not require a bouncy miracle to beat Boston College.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Noun
-
Studios could all use that sort of good news, and good omens for the rest of summer movie season.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Trump's experience with special elections as omens Republicans now have 220 House seats, Democrats 213.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This parameter is key for discovering whether such phenomena are made of just protons or heavier atomic nuclei — and, therefore, what produces them.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
16 May 2025
-
That so few of these adaptations have succeeded speaks to the unique alchemy of timing, talent, and resources that have made Michaels’s original such an unlikely cultural phenomenon.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Passionate about utopian socialism and architecture, Gaudí’s forms and shapes were totally fresh, otherworldly and are sometimes referred to as a precursor of the Surrealist movement, of which Salvator Dalí was a key proponent.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
8 May 2025
-
Back then, President Barack Obama cancelled the space agency’s Constellation program—the precursor of Artemis, which was aiming to have bootprints back on the moon as early as 2015.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
For design lovers, that might mean visiting architectural icons, traveling to new places, traversing natural wonders, or trying new activities that flex certain skills.—
Maya Chawla,
Architectural Digest,
9 May 2025
-
As the six pals confront issues in their relationships and experience a few unfortunate (but hilarious) travel mishaps along the way, viewers are simultaneously taken on a tour of the beautiful natural wonders and idyllic towns the Hudson Valley has to offer.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
In a bit of foreshadowing, Minnesota set a school record when that half dozen went to the NFL Scouting Combine this winter, although that isn’t a one-to-one comparison.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The foreshadowing of their downfall is more interesting than anything else Porsha is bringing to the show in what was supposed to be her triumphant return.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This week's quiz highlights May marvels, hamburger history, lyrical legends — and more.—
Khloe Quill , Reem Amro,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
-
Just beyond the epic Castle Howard in rural North Yorkshire, about 200 miles north of London, stands the Silos, another architectural marvel that is a modern homage to the area’s agrarian past.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share