1
as in vowed
to make a solemn declaration of intent
they promised to keep in touch with us after they moved away
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in predicted
to show signs of a favorable or successful outcome
given the cast, the new sitcom promises to be an excellent show
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 promised
Ann Korchak, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
That is twice the promised average increase in refunds.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Chimney Rock, North Carolina — Markwayne Mullin, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, promised Tuesday that DHS employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown can expect to receive paychecks by the end of the week.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Neither emergency oil releases nor promised production hikes from OPEC+ can fill the gap.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Tenants were promised bold action, including a rent freeze, and an administration would meet the housing crisis with urgency.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Officials have promised thorough investigations of all uses of force.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, opportunity has been promised before.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
Trump promised early on that the war would likely not last beyond six weeks.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Town manager Jenny Reske promised an interview and never followed through.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
With the first of Mamdani’s four promised rent freezes coming at us like a high-speed train, many of us won’t be around for the next three.
—Ann Korchak, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
That is twice the promised average increase in refunds.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Specifically, McKenzie had become obsessed with cryptocurrency — the online infrastructure of alternative forms of money backed by a system of computer code that promised to revolutionize the world, or, failing that, make a lot of people very rich.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
Chimney Rock, North Carolina — Markwayne Mullin, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, promised Tuesday that DHS employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown can expect to receive paychecks by the end of the week.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Neither emergency oil releases nor promised production hikes from OPEC+ can fill the gap.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Tenants were promised bold action, including a rent freeze, and an administration would meet the housing crisis with urgency.
—Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Officials have promised thorough investigations of all uses of force.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Still, opportunity has been promised before.
—Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
Trump promised early on that the war would likely not last beyond six weeks.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Town manager Jenny Reske promised an interview and never followed through.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for promised
Adjective
-
Kiehl said the organization remains committed to transparency and to continuing its work in the community.—
Kelly Werthmann,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Even for very committed developers, years of delays can mean circumstances change, material and labor costs shift, and projects become untenable, not out of some immense greed but as a simple matter of feasibility.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
OpenAI’s founders vowed not to privilege speed over safety, and the organization’s articles of incorporation made benefitting humanity a legally binding duty.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Before redistricting, that seat, the 49th Congressional District, had been the region’s most competitive, and with Desmond in the race, Republicans had vowed to direct considerable resources to beating Levin.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Republican strategist Jim Merrill, a top New Hampshire adviser for Rubio's 2016 presidential bid, predicted that Iran would become a flashpoint in 2028 — just as the Iraq war was for Democrats in 2004 and 2008.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Republican strategist Jim Merrill, a top New Hampshire adviser for Rubio’s 2016 presidential bid, predicted that Iran would become a flashpoint in 2028 — just as the Iraq war was for Democrats in 2004 and 2008.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In a new dark comedy (now in theaters) from Dream Scenario director Kristoffer Borgli, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play Charlie and Emma, an engaged couple whose wedding plans are thrown into disarray when the latter makes a disturbing confession.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Performance Data Helps Teams Focus on What Works Content strategy can become more effective when teams identify which pages attract attention, which channels drive visits, and which topics keep users engaged and loyal.—
William Jones,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Frank often mocked Gus’s improbable revelations, as when Gus swore a saint had appeared to him through his bedroom curtains one night.—
David Mcgrath,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Anthropic swore never to stand between military officials and B2B SaaS influencer slop.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Karaban ripped the ball out of Wagler’s hands with a little more than four minutes left in the first half and led a fast break that resulted in Mullins’ three-point play, the Huskies were the bullies Wagler had been warned about.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Another surgery swapped out her breast implants to erase her shoulder pain in 2022, Dishell said, but doctors warned her then that her other pain was unlikely to improve.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Within minutes of Trump signing the order, top election officials in Oregon and Arizona, two states that rely heavily on mail ballots, pledged to sue, arguing that the president was illegally encroaching on the right of states to run elections.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Trump pledged to do right by farmers, who had already been buffeted by his erratic tariff regime and Chinese retaliation.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But as the draft gets into the later rounds, Berry has hinted Cleveland could take a swing on another young signal-caller.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
During an appearance on his show last week, Kent hinted that the Jewish state was behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Promised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/promised. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
