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
Paul Elie, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Their nine-month imprisonment presaged an evisceration of human rights in Cambodia by Hun Sen, the longtime leader who refashioned a young democracy into a dictatorial dynasty.
—Sun Narin, New York Times, 7 Apr. 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
Dolan’s timidity in February presaged the decision of the bishops’ conference to wind down the refugee program in April, apparently without any attempt to sustain it independently.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Their nine-month imprisonment presaged an evisceration of human rights in Cambodia by Hun Sen, the longtime leader who refashioned a young democracy into a dictatorial dynasty.
—Sun Narin, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
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Fashion houses such as Hugo Boss and Michael Kors leverage these fibers’ sophisticated feel and drape for premium garments where tactile experience drives consumer perception of quality.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
30 June 2025
-
Go prim and proper with a column silhouette from Emilia Wickstead, or lean into the fairytale feel with a floaty chiffon number from McQueen.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
30 June 2025
Noun
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This is, in part, explained by the institutional memory of the competition’s forerunner — the Intercontinental Cup — and the legendary battles of a bygone era.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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Another forerunner of today’s scene is Ansedonia, a hillside community of upscale homes near Capalbio that in the 1960s became popular with creative types from the Italian capital.—
Lee Marshall,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Research and advisory firm Gartner predicted in February that by 2027, the average prices of application programming interfaces for genAI will fall to less than 1% of the current average price for the same technology.—
Bernice Ooi,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
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Hentschel also predicted fewer new apartments will get built and that demand for commercial warehouse space will increase, pushing up rents.—
Jeff Collins,
Oc Register,
25 June 2025
Noun
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There had actually been a premonition of this in the Angel’s Trumpet painting in his show at Zwirner last spring.—
Dodie Kazanjian,
Vogue,
5 June 2025
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Like its fatal forebears, Bloodlines kicks off with an ominous premonition of mass mortality, albeit one with a slight twist.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Organizations can measure psychological safety data as a precursor to inclusion.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Washington said the firms funneled money to Chinese firms that produce the precursors for fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that has stoked a drug epidemic in the US.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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And any fear—and hence bigger discounts—caused by overwrought debt worries just makes our opportunity even sweeter.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The fear, in fact, is that our continual need to standardize will modernize ourselves out of existence.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Appearances aren’t deceptive; the portents are grim.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
12 June 2025
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Thus, the negative GDP change should not be taken as a portent of looming disaster.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Noun
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The fact Ishiba’s LDP faces an election on July 20 only heightens the BOJ’s worries about the political establishment striking back.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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But plenty of Republicans have expressed worries about the provision as well, imperiling its passage.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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