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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of portent
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.
—
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
But with the hindsight of the 2025 campaign, it is filled with signifiers, the emergence from the TV to dazzle the local villagers a portent of a savvy politician who got elected by stepping away from the screen to meet physically with voters.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Perhaps as a portent, the sun poked through the clouds for her race.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Black cats can be portents of bad luck.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
But with the hindsight of the 2025 campaign, it is filled with signifiers, the emergence from the TV to dazzle the local villagers a portent of a savvy politician who got elected by stepping away from the screen to meet physically with voters.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Dec. 2025
Perhaps as a portent, the sun poked through the clouds for her race.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Black cats can be portents of bad luck.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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Also like its forerunner, HBO’s latest ends each episode at a moment of peak tension.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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These were the forerunners of today’s robots.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson, shooting for a miracle, missed a 3-pointer that would’ve pulled Miami to within three points with 49 seconds left.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
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When Joosua, the black sheep of the family, suddenly returns and appears to perform a miracle, his brother Elias is consumed by jealousy.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Myths, legends and horror films have turned it into an omen of bad luck.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Irish coming-of-ager, created by Lisa McGee, became a cultural phenomenon that transcended time and place.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
21 Mar. 2026
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What the data show—and what everyone has seen with our own eyes—is what we social scientists call a psychogenic epidemic, a phenomenon that causes tremendous suffering but has no organic cause, meaning the onset is social or psychological, not biological.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Nanjiani steered the audience through the tie in the Live-Action Short category as calmly and confidently as a pilot navigating turbulence, and in the process probably bumped up his stock as a host for the precursor circuit.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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Online reaction to the latest cease-and-desist letter sent to Campbell largely questioned why Kirk and TPUSA have not filed suit instead of issuing multiple letters, which are typically seen as a precursor to litigation.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That new evidence was the breaking point for Disney, and one wonders if that’ll reverberate through the ailing Bachelor franchise, which was supposed to have a fresh new star in Paul from one of Disney’s more recently popular reality series.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
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Its elegant, rounded boxes for column and row numbers and lucid formula-building bar are wonders to behold.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and shared a foreshadowing of Judas’ betrayal at the Garden of Gethsemane.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 2026
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Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and shared a foreshadowing of Judas’ betrayal at the Garden of Gethsemane.—
Marina Johnson,
IndyStar,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For the time being, however, Starlink reigns supreme, representing its status as a marvel of SpaceX’s world-leading logistics, manufacturing and launching capabilities.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
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Spread out over five miles of Atlantic Oceanfront, and topping 702 feet at the highest point, this dramatic stretch of coastline is equal parts historic site, geological marvel, conservation area, and unbeatable photo backdrop.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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