Thesaurus results for PORTENT

portent

noun

ˈpȯr-ˌtent

Definition of portent

as in forerunner

something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in miracle

something extraordinary or surprising a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world

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 portent Things are also tough for their friends, Elle (Yasmin Finney) and Tao (William Gao), whose constant bickering seems to be an ominous portent for their on-again-off-again relationship. — David MacK, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 Always alert to mood swings, Hollywood this week is coping with some dauntingly positive portents. — Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 June 2026 That Mann and his daughter, at a posh Frankfurt hotel party, glimpse so many remnants of the Nazi era — including Erika’s ex-husband, who collaborated with the regime — is another portent of darkness. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 May 2026 Hurley says there are already portents of future protests against SpaceX’s plan, sparked by its lofting just 10,000 Starlink satellites so far into low Earth orbit. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for portent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent

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

Noun

The re-emergence of a long-unseen Jean-Michel Basquiat masterpiece is a miracle the art market occasionally performs.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
On Saturday, with the usual early season smattering of fans lost in the cavernous Yale Bowl, Dante Reno didn’t have another comeback or miracle game in him.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of miracle

Noun

Corral has no crystal ball, but the early omens are promising after Casey Bloys signed a new multiyear deal to oversee HBO Max and Paramount+ in a new role at Skydance.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
But from the first scenes, omens lay the groundwork for a sinking spiral of evolving tragedy.

— Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of omen

Noun

The health emergency caused demand for fuel to crash to the point that the world ran out of room to store oil, a phenomenon that briefly drove crude oil futures below zero for the first time ever.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
In 1980, to better understand this phenomenon, the mathematician and economist Graciela Chichilnisky turned to topology, an area of math in which shapes are considered equivalent if one can be stretched into another without tearing.

— Alex Stone, Quanta Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of phenomenon

Noun

To fix the chemical interference, the research team added a decoupling modulator molecule featuring ammonium ions, iodide ions, and two sulfonate groups to the precursor solution.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
This notorious commercial entity, a precursor of the global corporations of today and big enough to command its own army, ruthlessly exploited foreign resources, human and material.

— Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of precursor

Noun

In a bit of foreshadowing, Lowen’s near-waist length, dark brown hair hints at Verity’s, but with golden-red highlights and thick bangs.

— Fawnia Soo Hoo, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026
Back in the series premiere, the Hal-o-gram’s first words serve as cheeky foreshadowing for the big reveal that ends that episode (aka revealing Hal’s dead body).

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of foreshadowing

Noun

This was performance at its peak, a marvel to behold of an artist who helped build hip-hop as an institution while adding to the story still being written.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
The fact that Drew still gazed upon my more than half-a-century-old, decidedly not-hot physique with love and desire was a marvel and a gift.

— Diana Daniele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of marvel

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portends

portent

portentous

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Style

“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of portent

noun

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