as in leader
one that takes the lead or sets an example the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bellwether Front-month contracts for copper, widely seen as a bellwether for the shape of the global economy, were trading 3% higher at $4.64 per pound in New York on Friday morning. Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025 As Bellwether Luxury demand often acts as a bellwether preceding economic downturns. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025 The bellwether asset was bouncing around the $90,000 level Thursday — well off its $109,000 high, reached on Inauguration Day just six weeks ago. Allison Morrow, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025 That was a pretty clear bellwether for the rest of Brat summer, which was dedicated to freewheeling messiness. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bellwether

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Bellwether.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwether. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bellwether

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!