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
Anything below 50% favorability portends political trouble; right now Trump’s positive standing in polls hovers around a dismal 40%.
—
Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But its rapid scale up portends major changes in the machinery of American health care, swapping manual processes for ones driven by a multitude of AI products.
—Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
The cacophony of drills and construction trucks outside Porte de Clichy Station portends a major public transit expansion, intended to benefit not just the city of Paris but the suburbs around it.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s stockpiling of missiles portends wars of attrition, like the current one, in which each side tries to wear the other down.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The county’s silence on this issue portends an ominous outcome for west Pompano, Deerfield Beach and Coconut Creek.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Leonhard hasn’t divulged details, but adding outside linebackers coach Bobby April III portends a 3-4 base.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But its rapid scale up portends major changes in the machinery of American health care, swapping manual processes for ones driven by a multitude of AI products.
—Casey Ross, STAT, 6 Apr. 2026
This dynamic portends a tragic end for Iran.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In other words, current prices still do not reflect the extent of shortages a prolonged conflict portends.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
The cacophony of drills and construction trucks outside Porte de Clichy Station portends a major public transit expansion, intended to benefit not just the city of Paris but the suburbs around it.
—Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s stockpiling of missiles portends wars of attrition, like the current one, in which each side tries to wear the other down.
—Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The county’s silence on this issue portends an ominous outcome for west Pompano, Deerfield Beach and Coconut Creek.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Leonhard hasn’t divulged details, but adding outside linebackers coach Bobby April III portends a 3-4 base.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for portends
Verb
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Continue reading … IN OTHER NEWS LOCKER ROOM DOUBT — Former PR exec predicts Vrabel resignation as new images with Dianna Russini pile up.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Conaghan predicts that growth will primarily come from versions that have little or no caffeine.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, the new approach promises to overcome this problem.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
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There’s no warmth in this movie, which is drained of emotional affect despite the galvanizing filmmaking that potentially promises otherwise.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Special election was 'harbinger for Democratic enthusiasm' The polling numbers may not play out, but the voter turnout for Shawn Harris in Georgia's 14th district earlier this month bodes well for Democrats across the state.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
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The development bodes poorly for further negotiations, coming just days after Trump extended the ceasefire indefinitely to give Iran more time.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But a lack of accountability presages failure for California’s big reform.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
-
An index of 50 is balanced and presages neither economic expansion nor contraction.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There’s a great exchange between Bishop and Kidd in the first episode, in which Bishop calls Kidd out on counting cards and says something about luck.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Tucked away in the more than 500 pages of city budget expenditures, the mayor calls for creating a new revenue stream by allowing people who own a second home to rent it out on a short-term basis, something that is currently prohibited.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 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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But some parishioners remain optimistic that this period of intense hardship finally augurs the end of the regime.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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The broader picture augurs well for the Israeli home front.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last week, the Rays response reads, the county identified an additional $60 million shortfall based on the assumption that Community Investment Tax bonds would be taxable.—
Nicolas Villamil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
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Lily is the quickest to figure out the detective stories that George reads them every evening in the field, but otherwise smarts count for little in a quiet life of grazing and dozing.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Portends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/portends. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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