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
Trump should show up on July 26 and herald this grand new bridge, paid for by Canada. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 The heralds operate like independent contractors, with their own caseloads. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Verb
Above all, the election could herald the political demise of Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving PM, who has led the nation for all but 18 months since 2009. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026 When drugmakers Merck and Moderna announced promising results in August from a late-stage trial of adding an mRNA cancer vaccine to immunotherapy, it was heralded as potentially powerful new way of fighting tumors. — Stat Staff, STAT, 15 Oct. 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
  • Imara Jones, an advocate who runs a website that features the stories of transgender people, said the issue is attractive for conservatives because some Democrats agree with them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts anger foster care advocates and lawmakers.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of advocate
Noun
  • The hottest topics waffle between Nick Sirianni’s job security and the treatment of Jalen Hurts’ blood clots, none exactly harbingers of good news.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Reduced liquidity can be a harbinger of big gaps lower in prices.
    — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of harbinger
Verb
  • When a doddering Joe Biden threatened the party’s hold on the White House and foreshadowed a 2024 congressional wipeout, Pelosi used her considerable influence to not so gently ease the president aside as Democrats’ nominee for the White House.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The demand letter may foreshadow new legal filings in the ongoing lawsuit by CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of foreshadow
Verb
  • The Army has also not announced an operational deployment date.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Buck and Aikman have been the gold standard for announcing teams during their 25 years together, and breaking them up seems self-destructive.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of announce
Noun
  • Some proponents of tighter regulation will accept incremental progress, while others push for more sweeping change.
    — Barbara A. Trish, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Jackson, a proponent of Medicare for All, wrote Maine’s law creating the Prescription Drug Affordability Board and establishing pathways to importing cheaper drugs from Canada.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of proponent
Noun
  • Koslow’s screen career began in 1976 as the writer of the film Lifeguard, a ’70s-era Baywatch forerunner starring a hunky Sam Elliott and Anne Archer.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of forerunner
Verb
  • Sabbagh predicts this could transform the space industry from having less than 10 million users of mobile satellite services to being able to reach billions of users.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Some predicted the ad was likely to draw more empathy and interest in Acton from voters, and turn them away from Ramaswamy.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of predict
Verb
  • But this particular reality show tries to justify its controversial existence by proclaiming its seriousness with regards to psychology, philosophy, and current events.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Just this week, luminaries like Neil Young and Hideo Kojima came out of the woodwork to proclaim the film a misunderstood masterpiece.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herald

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herald

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