1
as in feels
a feeling that something bad will happen
I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in heralds
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in predicts
to tell of or describe beforehand
people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of presages
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
For Swain, the rise of directs presages nothing less than a revolution in the world’s financial markets.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Polls show voters favor Democrats by a wide margin and Trump’s approval is hovering around 40%, an abysmal level that usually presages major losses for the sitting president’s party.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Fatigue that presages a heart attack doesn’t subside with rest and is disruptive to daily activities.
—Nadine Avola, Flow Space, 19 Feb. 2026
The company is facing similar litigation in Nevada — and while the injunction is only temporary, and focuses on sports betting, the legal action presages the broader efforts by states to protect the lucrative revenue gambling brings in.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The tension between those companies and the state, which previously issued cease-and-desist letters to prediction markets, potentially presages a state-by-state conflict that plays out across the country.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 12 Nov. 2025
The question facing Federal Reserve policymakers, who will meet next week, is whether the employment numbers presages a broader slump.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
But a second round of arguments is a rare occurrence at the Supreme Court, and sometimes presages a major change by the justices.
—Mark Sherman, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2024
Noun
Sometimes, the departure of an underperforming executive or official presages improvements ahead.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
For Swain, the rise of directs presages nothing less than a revolution in the world’s financial markets.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.
—Rachel Canter, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Polls show voters favor Democrats by a wide margin and Trump’s approval is hovering around 40%, an abysmal level that usually presages major losses for the sitting president’s party.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Fatigue that presages a heart attack doesn’t subside with rest and is disruptive to daily activities.
—Nadine Avola, Flow Space, 19 Feb. 2026
The company is facing similar litigation in Nevada — and while the injunction is only temporary, and focuses on sports betting, the legal action presages the broader efforts by states to protect the lucrative revenue gambling brings in.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The tension between those companies and the state, which previously issued cease-and-desist letters to prediction markets, potentially presages a state-by-state conflict that plays out across the country.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 12 Nov. 2025
The question facing Federal Reserve policymakers, who will meet next week, is whether the employment numbers presages a broader slump.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
But a second round of arguments is a rare occurrence at the Supreme Court, and sometimes presages a major change by the justices.
—Mark Sherman, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presages
Noun
-
Spring delivers all the fresh-air feels.—
Judith Garrison,
AJC.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
And unlike the Apollo days, Americans now have social media to express all the feels, create memes and share powerful quotes from the astronauts in real time.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After years of competing for quarters in the arcades, two of the heralds of the video game age are working in tandem.—
Devin Robertson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The movie heralds from FilmNation Entertainment’s production label Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, and Assemble Media.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Xcel predicts the need for power will grow at the same time that its coal plants are being retired to make the transition to more renewable energy.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The show follows a group of exiles led by mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), who predicts the fall of the world's ruling empire.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This desire to find connection in loss hints that death can often be more tangible to process than estrangement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After downplaying the prospect of a new album in recent interviews, Grande began posting hints to the contrary in March, like a flower emoji in her Instagram bio.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stay ahead of every moment, from theme predictions to who’s wearing who.—
Emma Cline,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After nearly four months, some rate predictions may need to be recast.—
Tim Maxwell,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
They are also filled with apocalyptic premonitions that make sense only in a first-century context, when Jesus was credibly thought by his followers to soon be on his way back home, ready to take believers up to Heaven, or the moon, with him.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
New research shows Hinton’s premonitions about the insubordinate streak of AI may already be a reality.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
By the end of 1857, no one knew the crack-up of the Union was coming in three years, or that the nation would be in a civil war in four, but the portents were bleak.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Carol’s favorite, Bella Donna, does not carry the same dark portents.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
On the other hand, all these omens popping up so early in the season is an indication there are further twists to come.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The number 13 has long been associated with negative omens.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presages. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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