as in forerunners
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another
her father's successful job interview was seen as a harbinger of better times to come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in heralds
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the hope that the housing slump does not harbinger a general economic recession
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harbingers
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
In recent years, there have also been reports of vandalism and attacks on robotaxis and delivery robots, which some see as harbingers of a high-tech future not everyone asked for.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
If nothing else, Kidman should rally the rest of her Big Little Lies castmates as a roving band of blonde soothsayers and harbingers of eternal sleep.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Along with asparagus, hearty leafy greens, peas, and ramps, garlic scapes are among the first harbingers of an entire season of garden fun ahead.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
If popular wine auction results are truly harbingers of pendulum swings in the world of wine, then Cabernet Franc is having a moment.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
At worst, communications can be harbingers of disaster or indifference if they’re not done effectively.
—Pam Abrahamsson, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Shards of glass cut into my palms and shins, while the wind hurled sharp granules of ice into my face, harbingers of a storm that was already approaching from the west.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Eclipses are harbingers of change, often bringing intense shifts in perspective and catapulting us into new realities.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
If canaries in coal mines were harbingers of safe conditions, surely piping plovers at Waukegan Beach mean the city is overcoming its polluted past.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
In recent years, there have also been reports of vandalism and attacks on robotaxis and delivery robots, which some see as harbingers of a high-tech future not everyone asked for.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
If nothing else, Kidman should rally the rest of her Big Little Lies castmates as a roving band of blonde soothsayers and harbingers of eternal sleep.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Along with asparagus, hearty leafy greens, peas, and ramps, garlic scapes are among the first harbingers of an entire season of garden fun ahead.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026
If popular wine auction results are truly harbingers of pendulum swings in the world of wine, then Cabernet Franc is having a moment.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2026
At worst, communications can be harbingers of disaster or indifference if they’re not done effectively.
—Pam Abrahamsson, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Shards of glass cut into my palms and shins, while the wind hurled sharp granules of ice into my face, harbingers of a storm that was already approaching from the west.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Eclipses are harbingers of change, often bringing intense shifts in perspective and catapulting us into new realities.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harbingers
Noun
-
Even the Hammurabi Code, a set of laws created by the sixth Babylonian king in approximately 1760 bce, established forerunners of today’s interest rate and minimum wage laws.—
Chris Roush,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The Norwegian ended his season before the Olympics to further recover from a shoulder injury, but attended the finals as one of the forerunners, who test a course shortly before a race starts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The project heralds from Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions, in association with Brookwell McNamara Entertainment.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
This shift in economic ties heralds a much larger, global shift in the way these countries are financed, developed and employed.—
Alex Daruty,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Many scientists believe that the vocal systems of great apes were too limited to be considered precursors of human language, but the work of Crockford, Berthet and their colleagues suggests otherwise.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
These foods don’t have sky-high amounts of melatonin, and some contain more precursors to melatonin than the hormone itself, Tahir says.—
Sarah Klein,
Time,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Earlier poem-scrolls appear here, too, written in a style that foreshadows the graffiti Wong would come to love decades later.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
With almost three years left in his final term, Trump’s absence from CPAC foreshadows his eventual departure as leader of the GOP and the conservative movement, a role typically served by the president or the party’s leading contender for the White House.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr.
Political,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The brand continues to grow, opening a Lisbon hotel in 2022, and its popularity shows no signs of waning.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
Salah turned 34 today, with several fans bringing signs to the stadium in his honor.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Weather Underground predicts a 24% rain chance, partly cloudy skies and the same heat as the opener.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
Morgan Stanley predicts the space economy could surpass $1 trillion by 2040, and while industries from semiconductors to fiber-optic cables stand to benefit, medicine could see the most immediate disruption.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
People should monitor for one to three weeks after potential exposure for symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose, rash or red eyes.—
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
The luteal phase covers days 15 through 28, when progesterone dominates, appetite climbs, energy drops and PMS symptoms peak in the days before menstruation.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
That implies nearly 44% from Monday’s close.—
Deena Zaidi,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Summer, and all the vacation days and potential travel that implies, is upon us.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harbingers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harbingers. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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