1
as in feel
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 forerunner
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 to predict
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
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 presage
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Economist Claudia Sahm is an expert (if not the expert) on the conditions that presage a recession and how policymakers should react as a result.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
There’s a kind of implicit prayer in this that the withering of today’s Hollywood system is a presage for something better, giving the entire production a painful, nostalgic quality that tugs at your chest even as what unfolds before you is remarkably dumb.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
The New Moon in Virgo, which occurs shortly after Mercury turns direct, presages really big beginnings throughout the zodiac.
—Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
Verb
Yet the demands of modernity produced some humane outcomes that also presaged the future.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Economist Claudia Sahm is an expert (if not the expert) on the conditions that presage a recession and how policymakers should react as a result.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
Made from 99 percent cotton, these soft jeans are designed to have a live-in feel.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And so espadrilles with a traditional feel are most in style now.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Captain America was introduced in December 1940 by Timely Comics, the forerunner of Marvel.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
-
And these projects may just be the forerunners.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
However, the weather is not predicted to be as dangerous as previous days.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Carlisle called Doncic the greatest player he’s ever coached and predicted Doncic will eventually win a league MVP award.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The data in the new study validates these premonitions.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The premonition came true in the 36th minute.—
Colin Cerniglia,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
That seemed a portent of more to come as the June primary inches ever closer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Israeli strikes on Iranian oil fields and Iranian drone attacks elsewhere have forced production to slow or halt, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed over fear of vessels being targeted by Tehran.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Traders amped up bets on European Central Bank and Bank of England interest-rate hikes after soaring energy prices fueled fears inflation will surge.—
James Hirai,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That means Coogler’s candidacy for best director is real, despite Anderson’s sweep of precursor awards.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Longmore noted that some of the complex molecules are thought to be precursors to amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Another couple moved their entire wedding into a massive underground garage, where hundreds of celebrants could party worry-free.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
So there was just a lot of worry about whether or not these would continue to be positioned correctly in the market.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
