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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of portent
Valya and her sister Tula (Olivia Williams) have high hopes for their new recruit, who Valya is convinced is part of the prophecy, but Sister Kasha, who’s mentored Ynez under Corrino, has been gripped by disturbing portents of things to come.
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Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
Don’t believe the mainstream media’s portents that Trump will destroy the country, the rule of law and the Statue of Liberty in one stoke.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2024
Scenes play out with all the portent of a Catholic Mass.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
For those who looked, there were signs and portents of core Democratic policies pushed offstage.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for portent 
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
Don’t believe the mainstream media’s portents that Trump will destroy the country, the rule of law and the Statue of Liberty in one stoke.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2024
Scenes play out with all the portent of a Catholic Mass.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
For those who looked, there were signs and portents of core Democratic policies pushed offstage.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for portent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portent
Noun
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The company's North American forerunner, Chrysler, has been left for dead repeatedly over the decades, only to emerge with hit products like minivans in the 1980s and the Dodge Ram pickup in the 1990s.Joel Mathis, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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The launch of its own line of foundation models marks Amazon’s latest push to strengthen its position against forerunners Microsoft, Google, Meta and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.AFP, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But Marvel Rivals did not have any significant server issues at launch, something of a miracle, and that may indeed be the case here.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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Entrepreneurs, once key engines of China’s economic miracle, now operate in a climate of fear and uncertainty, unsure of what Beijing’s next policy shift might be.Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The temptation to read the white things of this novel as metaphors or omens is hard to resist.Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
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Based on the omens and mathematical trends the next successful United manager isn't due for a while.Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Here are some worth trying and vital things to know about this psychiatric phenomenon.Cathy Habas, SELF, 17 Jan. 2025
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His television series Twin Peaks (1990–91, 2017) further cemented his reputation, becoming a cultural phenomenon with its blend of soap opera melodrama, supernatural intrigue, and quirky humor.Darryn King, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Some potential precursor KPIs include: • The partner’s cost per lead (CPL) from different sources.Henry McIntosh, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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The petition — which itself isn’t a lawsuit but a precursor — was withdrawn this week.Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The night sky will reveal stunning sights such as the craters of the Moon, the majestic rings of Saturn, the swirling bands of Jupiter, and other astronomical wonders.Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2025
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To the boy wonder of American capitalism, the estate represented much more than an investment, though.Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This was a fair description of some elements in the Antall government—and a prescient foreshadowing of the populist style that Orban himself would later adopt.PAUL LENDVAI, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
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The emphasis on ambiguity was fitting foreshadowing of the next 45 minutes of the Dallas Cowboys’ state of the union news conference.Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
Noun
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Defence Mattias Ekholm — 91 The veteran defenceman remains a marvel on defence for the Oilers.Allan Mitchell, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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The parade floats are a marvel of state-of-the-art technology tucked away beneath flowers and other all-natural materials.Jennie Key, The Enquirer, 31 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Portent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portent. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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