1
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
Relevance
2
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
The Dead Zone maintains key big-picture threads from the book and movie — the malevolent rising-star politician, the apocalyptic portent — while taking advantage of its format, succeeding as both a procedural and a long-term story.
—
Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
But coming in at a brisk 89-minute runtime, the feature is awkwardly compressed in its portrait of heartache and easily overwhelmed by the political portent of its subject.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Jellyfish scrape along the sea floor like spindly mushroom clouds of portent, stinging Sofia who masochistically (and in a way that carries over to her actual human relationships) keeps going back for another dip.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025
The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
But coming in at a brisk 89-minute runtime, the feature is awkwardly compressed in its portrait of heartache and easily overwhelmed by the political portent of its subject.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
-
The case was the forerunner to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno’s decision to snatch Elián from his cousin’s Little Havana home and reunite him with his dad in Cuba.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Most of the forerunners of modern Zionism saw themselves as secular.—
Tamir Sorek,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
When the Mets somehow won the World Series in 1969, people called it a miracle.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
-
In their minds, the miracle cure gets worse odds than lighting striking you while a meteor lands on your head.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Noun
-
Trump's experience with special elections as omens Republicans now have 220 House seats, Democrats 213.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Trump has had experience with the omens special elections can carry.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
One concern is a phenomenon called breaker masking.—
Akielly Hu,
Wired News,
3 May 2025
-
Celebrity brands are an inescapable modern phenomenon.—
Nora Taylor,
Architectural Digest,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Some say that news is a precursor to a recession, but that seems very unlikely given the other economic news.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 May 2025
-
The paintings are a precursor to Mexico’s famous catsta (caste) paintings — a genre invented to depict biracial families that was omnipresent during most of the 18th century.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
For design lovers, that might mean visiting architectural icons, traveling to new places, traversing natural wonders, or trying new activities that flex certain skills.—
Maya Chawla,
Architectural Digest,
9 May 2025
-
As the six pals confront issues in their relationships and experience a few unfortunate (but hilarious) travel mishaps along the way, viewers are simultaneously taken on a tour of the beautiful natural wonders and idyllic towns the Hudson Valley has to offer.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
In a bit of foreshadowing, Minnesota set a school record when that half dozen went to the NFL Scouting Combine this winter, although that isn’t a one-to-one comparison.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The foreshadowing of their downfall is more interesting than anything else Porsha is bringing to the show in what was supposed to be her triumphant return.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This week's quiz highlights May marvels, hamburger history, lyrical legends — and more.—
Khloe Quill , Reem Amro,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
-
Just beyond the epic Castle Howard in rural North Yorkshire, about 200 miles north of London, stands the Silos, another architectural marvel that is a modern homage to the area’s agrarian past.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share