BELLWETHER Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

bellwether

noun

ˈbel-ˈwe-t͟hər

Definition of bellwether

as in leader

one that takes the lead or sets an example the state has a long history of being an early and reliable bellwether in presidential elections

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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 bellwether But from where and how Nebraska players arrive in Lincoln still serves as something of a bellwether for the program’s success level. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 All of which make the sprawling district in Nevada’s rough and rocky Great Basin an improbable political bellwether. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 It is considered a bellwether case, meaning its outcome is meant to help guide how all the other cases in federal court in Chicago might proceed, and/or how to settle those cases. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 The outcome of this bellwether case is expected to significantly influence whether other states pursue similar legal actions against AI companies. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bellwether

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellwether

Noun

Fans, artists, and leaders across all industries are mourning the star whose relentless optimism, grace, and resilience was a shining light.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Burch, who wasn't known for being particularly close with her neighbors before, emerged as vocal leader—and a lightning rod for deal proponents.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of leader

Noun

In reality, decades of land abuse and exploitation left behind a scarred terrain uniquely prepared for the arrival of kudzu as a fast-growing pioneer plant.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
The early quantum pioneers didn’t realize — at first — that the arcane math that strikingly captured the conduct of atoms had left the real world behind.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pioneer

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“Bellwether.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellwether. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bellwether

noun

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