1
as in feel
a feeling that something bad will happen
I had a nagging presage that the results of my medical tests would not be good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the sight of the first robin is always a welcome presage of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to predict
to tell of or describe beforehand
people used to believe that a comet presaged a major event, such as the death of a king
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 presage
Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
This combination presages what could be big performance and battery life improvements, along with some intriguing new ways of working.
—Michael J. Miller, PCMAG, 21 May 2024
Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Quarterback’s global success presaged Christmas Day NFL action.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Noun
As the ending of the story perhaps presages, Martha is on the cusp of a change in her life.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024
This combination presages what could be big performance and battery life improvements, along with some intriguing new ways of working.
—Michael J. Miller, PCMAG, 21 May 2024
Verb
This belief justified, in their eyes, the use of indiscriminate violence against the Muslim minority—presaging, in Wagner’s view, the abuses of the post-9/11 era.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Quarterback’s global success presaged Christmas Day NFL action.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presage
Noun
-
Plants a few miles away and has filled the apartment with enormous trees in ceramic pots, giving the rooms a bohemian feel.—
Lisa Boone,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The dress cinched slightly at her midsection before flowing into a softly pleated skirt, giving it that breezy, romantic feel that’s perfect for spring.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Indeed, VistaVision was the forerunner of IMAX 65mm, with its horizontal orientation.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The company plans to recreate the mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, by editing the genome of each species’ closest living relative to make a hybrid animal that would be visually indistinguishable from its extinct forerunner.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Analysts predict earnings of $0.72 per share with sales of $11.17 billion for the forthcoming report, compared to sales of $11.23 billion and earnings of $0.72 per share for the same quarter the previous year.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
No one predicted that diminutive quarterback Dillon Gabriel would go in the top 100 picks, but the Browns selected the Oregon passer at No. 94 Friday night.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
CSAs have often been precursors to broader agreements among countries.—
Ngaire Woods,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Many people at Saturday’s protest worried that the ruling could be the precursor to other judgments that diminish the rights of transgender people.—
Kwiyeon Ha and Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Orr’s study also found that even as silence about climate change can spiral into deeper fears of speaking out, speaking about the issue can drive a spiral toward further discussion and action — and that individual conversations can play a surprisingly large role.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Creating a culture of fear by persecuting unpopular individuals and groups?—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Weinstein’s thuggish joke was just one portent of the edgy, borderline sinister air that permeated the party from the very beginning.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
-
As the two settle into their new house, Michael Shanks, the film’s Australian writer-director, pulls an anything-goes series of shocking portents.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Bits and pieces to friends, tender moments and worries to others.—
Kristina Goetz,
USA Today,
13 Apr. 2025
-
This is important because lower yields can help the economy and are the typical bond reaction during worries about economic growth.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump's experience with special elections as omens Republicans now have 220 House seats, Democrats 213.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Trump has had experience with the omens special elections can carry.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Presage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presage. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share