as in predicts
formal + literary
to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
The distant thunder portended a storm. If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.
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Recent Examples of portends
Time will tell as to what the AI Basic Act truly portends.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Emerging research suggests that the spread of sports gambling portends a huge increase in gambling addiction, which has the highest rate of suicide of any addictive behavior.
—Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In Persian culture, the owl does not suggest wisdom; rather, its presence portends catastrophe.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
That’s significant to fans and industry officials because talk of a cap — which would bring an upper limit to individual player salaries and a bevy of other changes — portends a nasty labor fight.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
His directors guild nomination portends similar recognition at the Oscars, and the film itself could wind up with as many as 10 nominations.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
And being a clever child probably still portends being a successful adult.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The state’s latest energy plan fails to recognize and remedy this and portends a bleak, costly energy future, not to mention more pollution and higher health care costs.
—Anshul Gupta, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Moreover, the panel's move on hepatitis B — in the face of overwhelming data that shows the birth dose is effective and safe — portends further upheaval for the nation's childhood vaccine schedule, a cornerstone of public health.
—Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Emerging research suggests that the spread of sports gambling portends a huge increase in gambling addiction, which has the highest rate of suicide of any addictive behavior.
—Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In Persian culture, the owl does not suggest wisdom; rather, its presence portends catastrophe.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
That’s significant to fans and industry officials because talk of a cap — which would bring an upper limit to individual player salaries and a bevy of other changes — portends a nasty labor fight.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
His directors guild nomination portends similar recognition at the Oscars, and the film itself could wind up with as many as 10 nominations.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
And being a clever child probably still portends being a successful adult.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The state’s latest energy plan fails to recognize and remedy this and portends a bleak, costly energy future, not to mention more pollution and higher health care costs.
—Anshul Gupta, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Moreover, the panel's move on hepatitis B — in the face of overwhelming data that shows the birth dose is effective and safe — portends further upheaval for the nation's childhood vaccine schedule, a cornerstone of public health.
—Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends
Verb
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Physics predicts that limbs with more mass concentrated away from the hip require more energy to swing.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The outlook for that region predicts mild temperatures for spring, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For 2026, the beloved series marks its 66th season and promises a summer filled with romance, comedy and tragedy.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Feb. 2026
-
For the roughly 8% of Americans without health insurance, TrumpRx’s website promises that more high-cost, brand-name drugs will be discounted on the platform in the future.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His naked self-dealing, weaponizing the Justice Department against his political foes, turning on our allies, the casino-fication of the White House — none of it bodes well for the future of our democracy, setting precedents that other presidents on both sides of the aisle could very well continue.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
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Craig is a Seniors finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and considering Bill Belichick did not gain first-ballot entry, perhaps that bodes well for next Thursday’s HOF Class reveal at NFL Honors.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The company is facing similar litigation in Nevada — and while the injunction is only temporary, and focuses on sports betting, the legal action presages the broader efforts by states to protect the lucrative revenue gambling brings in.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The tension between those companies and the state, which previously issued cease-and-desist letters to prediction markets, potentially presages a state-by-state conflict that plays out across the country.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Continue reading … JUDGE ON TRIAL — Supreme Court justice defends Grammys attendance as senator calls for investigation.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Phone calls from customers to the company’s Miramar headquarters went unanswered and about 35 of its distinctive bright yellow trucks sat unattended in the front and back parking lots.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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From the Russian perspective, all of this lines up with Europe’s history and foretells its destiny.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
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The evidence foretells what’s in store for the future.—
Keiji Horikawa,
The Conversation,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Every day augurs some new threat—to democracy, to decency.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
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However, the lack of US presence and the diminished interest of private capital augurs negatively for the climate agenda.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Set in 1881 during the American Western Frontier gold rush, the story follows Lucifer’s children, Lilith and Aamon, the original vampires who fly to the Americas to suck the living hope out of the common folk’s blood that’s been revived by the promise of the American Dream, the synopsis reads.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
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The luxury reads as alienating, but maybe it was always supposed to.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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