as in listens
to pay attention especially through the act of hearing
young people would do well to read this wise and witty book and harken to its message
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Recent Examples of harkens
The scene in San Francisco harkens to the days when a prepubescent girl leaped around the Oakland Ice Center as if nothing bothered her.
—
Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Both Berry and Markle’s takes on minimalist outerwear harkens back to a certain style evocative of 1990s minimalism, where playful proportions and some nods to tailoring incorporated into statement coats.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
The name harkens back to the strawberry stand that the brothers opened in 1986, when Chad was in seventh grade and Troy was in fifth.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026
Titled a serpentine, their pavilion is inspired by the crinkle crankle wall, a snaking English architecture feature that harkens back to the sinusoidal walls of Ancient Egypt.
—News Desk, Artforum, 21 Jan. 2026
This hiring trend harkens back to pre-pandemic days and the tight labor market of 2018 and 2019, when firms prioritized in-person interaction, according to researchers specializing in entry-level recruitment.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
This harkens back to a very old-fashioned organizational dynamic, the Greek agora, the image of which bears a striking resemblance to the modern university.
—David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park offers lighthouse views, a beach that harkens back to a pre-European version of Florida, and a waterfront trail that looks out over the clapboard homes in Stiltsville.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2023, the S&P 500 surged 24%, after the debut of ChatGPT the prior year unleashed a fervor around the companies most likely to benefit from a technological revolution that harkens back to the dawn of the internet.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Both Berry and Markle’s takes on minimalist outerwear harkens back to a certain style evocative of 1990s minimalism, where playful proportions and some nods to tailoring incorporated into statement coats.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 2026
The name harkens back to the strawberry stand that the brothers opened in 1986, when Chad was in seventh grade and Troy was in fifth.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2026
Titled a serpentine, their pavilion is inspired by the crinkle crankle wall, a snaking English architecture feature that harkens back to the sinusoidal walls of Ancient Egypt.
—News Desk, Artforum, 21 Jan. 2026
This hiring trend harkens back to pre-pandemic days and the tight labor market of 2018 and 2019, when firms prioritized in-person interaction, according to researchers specializing in entry-level recruitment.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
This harkens back to a very old-fashioned organizational dynamic, the Greek agora, the image of which bears a striking resemblance to the modern university.
—David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park offers lighthouse views, a beach that harkens back to a pre-European version of Florida, and a waterfront trail that looks out over the clapboard homes in Stiltsville.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2023, the S&P 500 surged 24%, after the debut of ChatGPT the prior year unleashed a fervor around the companies most likely to benefit from a technological revolution that harkens back to the dawn of the internet.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harkens
Verb
-
Our son listens quietly, absorbing this history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The boyfriend’s really sexy and loving and listens, and the husband’s really stable and good with the kids.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Flip Phone Shorty, of course, hearkens to those devices of yesteryear that defined the Y2k aesthetic, which has recently been all the rage.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Eventually, the team chose Sacramento, where much of downtown still hearkens to the mid-20th century with block upon block of drab government buildings.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harkens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harkens. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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