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
Jennifer Culp, Them, 16 Aug. 2024
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
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
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
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
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
-
Before selecting final fits, the Universal Thread team tested a wide range of fabrics for stretch, recovery, hand-feel, performance and wash range.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In addition to choosing acceleration or range maximization, there are several settings for steering feel and response and suspension behavior.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Perfected by forerunners such as Fiona Apple and Alanis Morissette, this fall has already seen two music stars gift us with lay-it-all-out-there lyrics.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Park cinema launched under the ownership of Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, a forerunner of Cineplex and today an operator of multiplexes and out of home destinations.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lucas predicted after the season-opening win over Jacksonville that Reneau would emerge as the team’s leading scorer this season.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
-
City officials have struggled to predict water availability in the recent past, especially as the ongoing drought on the Colorado River has continued delivering terrible water years.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Had Moehrig had a premonition like that before?—
Alex Zietlow
November 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And if so, is this her past or a premonition of the future?—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Many reckoned with its ideals; pervasive talk of liberty held particular portent for women’s lives.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
Cotton argued the shutdown’s cause was not the expiring health care subsidies, but rather Democrats’ fear of blowback from their supporters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
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Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Nya Lödöse was an important precursor to modern-day Gothenburg, located in the city’s eastern part between 1473 and 1624.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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Bogle introduced the first index fund for everyday investors, a precursor to the Vanguard 500.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile Syria remains scarred by years of conflict and nationals in Germany are looking on at the debate with mounting worry.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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Leaders at big carmakers spelled out their worries in the latest round of earnings calls, saying that finding a replacement for Nexperia at scale in the short term will be difficult.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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