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
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Recent Examples of presage
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
This combination presages what could be big performance and battery life improvements, along with some intriguing new ways of working.
—Michael J. Miller, PCMAG, 21 May 2024
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
One suggested that the move appears to presage the arrival of Bari Weiss, the leader of the upstart digital site The Free Press, who is in talks to sell her operations to Paramount.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
As the ending of the story perhaps presages, Martha is on the cusp of a change in her life.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
This combination presages what could be big performance and battery life improvements, along with some intriguing new ways of working.
—Michael J. Miller, PCMAG, 21 May 2024
Verb
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
One suggested that the move appears to presage the arrival of Bari Weiss, the leader of the upstart digital site The Free Press, who is in talks to sell her operations to Paramount.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
The scent boasts creamy coconut and vanilla notes that give it a beachy feel, while citrus and woody undertones offer a clean, herbal aroma.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Try them with a cream sweater or crisp white button-down for a clean, elevated vibe, or mix in a lighter brown knit for a tonal-but-not-twinset feel.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The investor and industrialist Andrew Mellon enjoyed a lengthy tenure as Treasury secretary—a forerunner to Trump’s Treasury appointees, Steven Mnuchin and Scott Bessent, both of them recruited straight from Wall Street.—
Evan Hughes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
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Half of those tested had osteoporosis or a forerunner condition, osteopenia.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Those who predicted a doomed future for all of humanity called us addicts and criminals, leeches and slime (and way worse things) because we were detested, shouted at, dragged by our arms across bedrooms and public sporting events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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Despite what the students view as anti-conservative bias, one predicted a conservative uprising, citing the assassination of Charlie Kirk as fuel for more right-leaning college students to speak out.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These premonitions lead her and Fin to Alpine Lake, the site of a Christian winter camp in the Rocky Mountains.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Everyone intercepts Marie on her way to find Thomas Godolkin, and Annabeth warns her about the premonition.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This monster is the precursor to slasher villains like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, who lumber along on their killing sprees, though this blueprint is far more sympathetic.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
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It is then converted into acetic acid, a key methane precursor.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The result came after Milei’s party suffered a landslide defeat to the Peronist opposition in a September local vote in the Buenos Aires province, an outcome that sparked a selloff of the peso amid investor fears over the president’s standing with voters.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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Harrison expressed deep fears that the White House could take an ax to CPB and public media more broadly.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Many reckoned with its ideals; pervasive talk of liberty held particular portent for women’s lives.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
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Keane, though, sees nothing but disaster ahead, a portent presaged by some of the film’s most enduring images, like a stretch limo with a flat tire and a steam room littered with empty champagne bottles.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Shanahan, the head coach in Washington from 2010 to 2013, once grilled Paulsen on offensive tackle protections out of worry the tight end might have to play emergency tackle in a preseason game.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Those worries resulted in a European bank stock selloff last week, although the sector quickly rebounded.—
Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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