as in foreshadows
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
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Recent Examples of prefigures
The Kamm tail, with its upturned spoiler and flat panel adorned with Ferrari’s signature twin round taillights, is a nod to aerodynamics that prefigures the shape of the Lusso’s spiritual successor, the 275 GTB.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Tragedy strikes many times in this decades-spanning story, in many forms, but the defining event of Grainier’s life sees his home burned to the ground, an event that eerily prefigures the LA fires of early 2025.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2026
Tragedy strikes many times in this decades-spanning story, in many forms, but the defining event of Grainier’s life sees his home burned to the ground, an event that eerily prefigures the LA fires of early 2025.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigures
Verb
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With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
Political,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
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The book wonderfully foreshadows one of its best moments, but the film doesn’t do this at all, setting up the action with a few lines of dialog instead.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The World Health Organization predicts one in four adults will have a stroke in their lifetime.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
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In the worst case scenario, in which supply disruptions persist into next year, the IMF predicts global growth to fall to around 2%.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And, as the title implies, Dunham delves deeper into her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and endometriosis diagnoses, which involved multiple surgeries and daily pain management, as well as a stint in rehab, brought on by an addiction to the anxiety medication Klonopin.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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The new midpoint implies 7% year-over-year growth.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Baisakhi heralds the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, and farmers come together to celebrate the abundance provided by nature.—
Tamanna Nangia,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 Apr. 2026
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Charlie Weimers, a lawmaker from the right-wing Sweden Democrats and strong proponent of harsher migration policies, said Thursday’s vote heralds a new era in the EU.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Glamorama anticipates a future in which fame becomes a spectacle economy, where visibility is both currency and trap.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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The coalition anticipates that the matter will be placed on the November ballot.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prefigures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigures. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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