as in prediction
a declaration that something will happen in the future
the far-fetched presagings of self-styled seers about current celebrities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in predicting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in reading
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 presaging
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Since 2022, Russia has dropped thousands of mines across the Black Sea, presaging Iran's Hormuz blockade by using underwater explosives to deter vessels from docking in Ukraine's Black Sea ports.
—Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Experts are already warning that there may not be enough fertilizer for the next harvest season, presaging lower yields and higher prices.
—Judd Devermont, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Local officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens, the new sanctuary honoring pathbreaking sculptor Alexander Calder, presaging its opening to the public, which is set for September 21.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Andy Cohen was lost to the wormhole, presaging more losses to come.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Since 2022, Russia has dropped thousands of mines across the Black Sea, presaging Iran's Hormuz blockade by using underwater explosives to deter vessels from docking in Ukraine's Black Sea ports.
—Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
Experts are already warning that there may not be enough fertilizer for the next harvest season, presaging lower yields and higher prices.
—Judd Devermont, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Local officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens, the new sanctuary honoring pathbreaking sculptor Alexander Calder, presaging its opening to the public, which is set for September 21.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presaging
Noun
-
The odds of the Clarity Act being passed this year have dropped back from almost 70% on the Polymarket prediction platform, falling to just over 50%.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
There were dire predictions about what would happen if Measure E doesn't pass.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Still, when weather patterns resemble past hurricanes, AI can be highly effective at recognizing relationships and predicting future storm behavior.—
Katie Garch,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
-
On top of predicting which PFAS will accumulate in the body and which will be excreted, researchers also have to contend with a person’s metabolism, the process by which chemicals – including some PFAS – are biologically transformed by the body.—
Carrie McDonough,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Two forecasting centers - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU) - are forecasting below-normal activity for the 2026 season, primarily due to a rapidly developing strong El Nino.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
Let the machines handle forecasting, logistics, compliance, customer service.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Saturday’s forecast suggests around a 50% chance of rain in the vicinity of the cave system, as Laos enters its annual rainy season.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
This would, all else equal, support a cautious approach to raising rates, and is consistent with our forecast for two 25 basis point hikes in June and September.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
What might have sounded like a bold claim at the turn of the millennium has turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy in today’s era of big data and artificial intelligence.—
Sandra Matz,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
-
Two reversals and a vindication For the OpenAI CEO, his comments walk back his prophecy on AI’s impact on labor.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
These were signs the women could easily read as the air cooled and their hearts sped.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The deal still needs sign-off from federal regulators.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, text produced by large language models, however remarkable, sophisticated, and even occasionally wondrous, is derivative, average, predictable.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
And all that is thanks to this wondrous and wonderful album by The Cars!—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like the Gordy scene, this could be a portentous sequence in a much more critical film.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Here, too, what was once pioneering and portentous already looks quaint.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presaging. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
