1
as in omens
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 miracles
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
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Recent Examples of portents
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.
—
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Black cats can be portents of bad luck.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
As portents go, after a testing summer for Newcastle, this did not look altogether positive.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Other auspicious portents are appearing, Worden says, that signal initial Mars colonies could begin spreading out, beneath crystalline hemispheric domes, across the 2030s.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Mamdani’s performance as mayor would be scrutinized for portents of the Democrats’ future.
—Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Black cats can be portents of bad luck.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
As portents go, after a testing summer for Newcastle, this did not look altogether positive.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Other auspicious portents are appearing, Worden says, that signal initial Mars colonies could begin spreading out, beneath crystalline hemispheric domes, across the 2030s.
—Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Advertisement Mamdani’s performance as mayor would be scrutinized for portents of the Democrats’ future.
—Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portents
Noun
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In fact, some of you may have found a more spiritual connection to the universe, seeing omens, signs, and visions of what was, what is and what could be.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
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The pattern offers favorable omens for Saquon Barkley, a sports history buff, who breached 1,000 yards rushing with a 132-yard game against the Commanders.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2025
Noun
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New manager Walt Weiss, Atlanta’s bench coach under Snitker for the past eight seasons, now needs a myriad of medical miracles to get the team back to its usual perch at the top of the National League East.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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The nonviolent way does not bring about miracles.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Here are our predictions for who will win the Big Four categories — album, song and record of the year as well as best new artist — at the 2026 Grammys.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Any statistical deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model could signify the involvement of unknown elementary particles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Surrounding your garden with a hardware cloth fence and a shock wire on top will do wonders.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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Every team needing a quarterback and watching Darnold’s rise wonders if busts-on-the-rise like Mac Jones and Malik Willis can do something similar.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Over 26 hours and 800 miles, this train trundles to the eastern city of Kars along the border with Armenia, unveiling the geographical marvels and dramatic vistas of Türkiye's Anatolian provinces.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The entry hints at the marvels inside and beyond.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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People crafted narratives out of suspicions, rumors and hints, to fill a desperate need for an explanation.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
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There are also a couple of hints that the fate of Europe’s Jews is part of the prevailing atmosphere of unmentionable moral contagion.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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New studies, however, clearly show that medical marijuana is not nearly as effective as the pro-marijuana lobby heralds.—
Mike Gimbel,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Jan. 2026
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The indie feature heralds from Benacus Entertainment and RNF Productions.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Users receive suggestions for improving profile photos, generating short introductions, starting conversations, and even planning dates.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
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The post included suggestions about what to say on the phone when speaking to representatives in Congress.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portents. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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