as in foreshadowed
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 prefigured
Chess by telegraph also prefigured chess played through other means of telecommunications.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
The dynamic prefigured the White House of Bush 43, which the Veep largely staffed, and substantially dominated.
—Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Your 2018 book, The Lies That Bind, seems to have prefigured the backlash against a certain way of talking about identity—as essential or at least fixed—that was prevalent in the 2010s.
—Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
IEEE Spectrum, 11 Dec. 2025
The dynamic prefigured the White House of Bush 43, which the Veep largely staffed, and substantially dominated.
—Karl Vick, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
Your 2018 book, The Lies That Bind, seems to have prefigured the backlash against a certain way of talking about identity—as essential or at least fixed—that was prevalent in the 2010s.
—Lula Konner, The New York Review of Books, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefigured
Verb
-
The Bryce Huff trade in the 2025 offseason foreshadowed the shortfall at edge rusher that led to the midseason acquisition of Jaelan Phillips.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Much of this turmoil is foreshadowed in the report's data, which largely spans from June 2024 to June 2025.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics were heralded as the most stylish yet, but Milan is going for gold on the heels of its annual men’s fashion week and ahead of the women’s runway previews.—
Stefanie Dazio,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Another Winter Olympics are upon us, heralded by Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie among those carrying the torch.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fate of a comet that was predicted to pass close to Earth remains a mystery five years after its dramatic breakup in the inner solar system — but some astronomers think a part of it might still be out there.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Still, research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates predicted in November that the ETFs will grow at a 29% to 35% five-year compound annual growth rate.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For areas south and east of the city, a change to plain rain is anticipated before clearing later in the night.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In fact, proliferation has moved much more slowly than anticipated at the time.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Formal provisions for the exchange of prisoners was not agreed upon until the summer of 1862, delayed by the Union’s reluctance to take any action that implied recognition of Confederate nationhood.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Not long after she was hired by a prior commission that trumpeted its decision to appoint a Black woman, Bowden-Lewis implied the commissioners were racists for failing to appoint a Black candidate of her choice as the division’s human resources director.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prefigured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefigured. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
