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
Since this show premiered, people have been saying that the Real Housewives of Rhode Island harkens back to the days of classic Housewives — largely because of the cast’s organic ties and willingness to let their guards down on camera.
—
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Linnetz’s work, both as a photographer and as a designer and stylist, often harkens back to image-making before the new millennium.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026
The Padres’ return to navy (or obsidian) harkens back to the alternate jerseys that the club wore throughout its run to the 1998 World Series.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
This practice harkens back to a time when people had to get their news by listening to the radio.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The washing of feet harkens back to how Jesus washed the feet of his apostles during the Last Supper.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
With a snazzy woodgrain finish, HP's new line of OmniDesk towers harkens back to an older era of computing on the outside while delivering modern-age components and performance.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Famed Danish maker Fritz Hansen has been crafting its pieces for over 150 years, and one of its more recent chairs harkens back to that history while bringing something new to the forefront.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Having analysts from both teams also harkens back to when NBC did the World Series.
—Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Linnetz’s work, both as a photographer and as a designer and stylist, often harkens back to image-making before the new millennium.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026
The Padres’ return to navy (or obsidian) harkens back to the alternate jerseys that the club wore throughout its run to the 1998 World Series.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
This practice harkens back to a time when people had to get their news by listening to the radio.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The washing of feet harkens back to how Jesus washed the feet of his apostles during the Last Supper.
—Mike Snider, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
With a snazzy woodgrain finish, HP's new line of OmniDesk towers harkens back to an older era of computing on the outside while delivering modern-age components and performance.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
Famed Danish maker Fritz Hansen has been crafting its pieces for over 150 years, and one of its more recent chairs harkens back to that history while bringing something new to the forefront.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Having analysts from both teams also harkens back to when NBC did the World Series.
—Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harkens
Verb
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From the attic above their apartment, their Stasi man listens for evidence of subversion.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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The staff of Pitchfork listens to a lot of new music.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Their joint venture launched March 5, with a lightweight low-runner shape that harks on the core principles of minimalism, something both brands have long championed.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Yenson reminds readers that the pope’s choice of name hearkens to Pope Leo XIII, who initiated modern Catholic social teaching and emphasized peace and justice.—
Kalpana Jain,
The Conversation,
13 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Harkens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harkens. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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