herald 1 of 2

noun

ˈher-əld How to pronounce herald (audio)
Definition of heraldnext
1
as in advocate
a person who actively supports or favors a cause an outspoken herald of prison reform

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harbinger
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another the American robin—the herald of spring in the North

Synonyms & Similar Words

herald

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand the reshuffle of the company's management heralded the sweeping changes to come

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to announce
to make known openly or publicly herald the great tidings to all the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word herald distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of herald are forerunner, harbinger, and precursor. While all these words mean "one that goes before or announces the coming of another," harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event.

their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season
the herald of a new age in medicine

In what contexts can forerunner take the place of herald?

Although the words forerunner and herald have much in common, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

When is it sensible to use precursor instead of herald?

While in some cases nearly identical to herald, precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another.

18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

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 herald
Noun
Clear skies, buttery soft sunshine and tender new plant growth herald the early days of spring, weeks before the rest of the country gets to experience any of it. — Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026 The heralds operate like independent contractors, with their own caseloads. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Verb
The housing package was heralded as a win by both Republicans and Democrats, who are eager to campaign on the legislation ahead of the 2026 midterms in which voters have serious concerns about the cost of living. — Dan Mangan,luke Fountain,kevin Breuninger,garrett Downs,ashley Capoot,justin Papp, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Released just before Hollywood's restrictive Production Code fell, The Producers heralded a new era of comedy. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for herald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald
  1. advocate
  2. harbinger
  3. foreshadow
  4. announce
  5. proponent
  6. forerunner
  7. predict
  8. proclaim
Noun
  • While advocates for court reporters say humans can still do the job better than machines, the fact that many hearings occur without any official transcript at all has drawn concern from top state officials.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Human rights advocates have also welcomed Jin’s release but cautioned that many members of Zion Church still remain behind bars.
    — Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Definition of advocate
Noun
  • The world looked to the social elite as the ultimate harbingers of style trends and sophistication, giving them a cultural cache and, in turn, a sense of power.
    — Moises Mendez II, InStyle, 29 June 2026
  • And so those last 25 minutes served as a bizarre risk-management experiment that is likely to be a harbinger of what is to come in this tournament.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of harbinger
Verb
  • Roberts’s quip foreshadowed his opinion on behalf of the Court holding that near-universal birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the text of the Fourteenth Amendment’s citizenship clause.
    — Amanda Frost, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • As Sam Khan wrote yesterday, the SWC also foreshadowed the future of college football.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of foreshadow
Verb
  • Iran also announced the complete closure of airspace over Tehran on Monday.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Famous friends of the bride and groom have been spotted across New York City headed to the couple's big day, reportedly in Madison Square Garden July 3, almost a year after the pop star and Super Bowl champion announced their romantic engagement.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of announce
Noun
  • Stream-access proponents took a similar approach in 2010, after a landowner on the Taylor River strung cables from bank to bank to keep a rafting company from floating down.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026
  • There isn't time for proponents to get a new measure on this year's ballot and state law requires any measures brought in odd years be limited to questions related to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).
    — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of proponent
Noun
  • The city had a history of assimilating such yearners, most notably Madonna, Swift’s forerunner and her own Middle American transplant success story.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026
  • The group, which includes Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen, is becoming a forerunner in the promising progress of a new type of vehicle battery.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 June 2026
Definition of forerunner
Verb
  • Susan Del Percio, a New York GOP strategist, predicted the dueling programs would excite the different constituencies of the two leaders.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • But predicting how things will change decades from now is a more daunting task than embracing a gauzy promise.
    — Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, 3 July 2026
Definition of predict
Verb
  • Pinned to their random assortment of hats were scrawled, handmade signs proclaiming liberty or death.
    — Sarah M.S. Pearsall, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • On September 25, 1975, Roy Bates proclaimed Sealand’s constitution.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Definition of proclaim

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Cite this Entry

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herald

Nglish: Translation of herald for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herald

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