herald 1 of 2

noun

ˈher-əld How to pronounce herald (audio)
Definition of heraldnext
1
as in advocate
a person who actively supports or favors a cause an outspoken herald of prison reform

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harbinger
one that announces or indicates the later arrival of another the American robin—the herald of spring in the North

Synonyms & Similar Words

herald

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to foreshadow
to give a slight indication of beforehand the reshuffle of the company's management heralded the sweeping changes to come

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to announce
to make known openly or publicly herald the great tidings to all the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word herald distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of herald are forerunner, harbinger, and precursor. While all these words mean "one that goes before or announces the coming of another," harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event.

their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season
the herald of a new age in medicine

In what contexts can forerunner take the place of herald?

Although the words forerunner and herald have much in common, forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage.

the blockade was the forerunner of war

When is it sensible to use precursor instead of herald?

While in some cases nearly identical to herald, precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another.

18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics

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 herald
Noun
The series serves as an origin story for how Norrin Radd (voiced by Paul Essiembre) becomes the herald of Galactus (James Blendick), then breaks free from the clutches of the Devourer of Worlds to surf around the galaxy and help others. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 June 2026 The reason is that the 1996 Ferrari 550 Maranello’s arrival was one of the heralds of the Ferrari of today, the one building cars with both world-beating performance and everyday usability. — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 28 May 2026
Verb
The fish has since taken out a massive portion of the crawfish, frog and small fish populations that Florida’s heralded long-legged wading birds rely on. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 The ads are part of a building pressure campaign against Higgins, whose December election to City Hall was heralded as a victory for progressives. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herald
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald
  1. advocate
  2. harbinger
  3. foreshadow
  4. announce
  5. proponent
  6. forerunner
  7. predict
  8. proclaim
Noun
  • So are 44 of 50 state attorneys general, dozens of Indian tribes, consumer advocates, addiction experts, and an increasingly bipartisan contingent on Capitol Hill.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Satish Thiagarjan, founder and CEO of Brysa, advocates using a scoring system rather than relying on instinct.
    — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of advocate
Noun
  • Our results, just published in the journal Science, suggest that the 1982-83 and 1997-98 El Niños – two of the strongest in recent memory – may be harbingers of more extreme events to come as the planet warms.
    — Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Something of a memento mori, the necklace flips the script on the beetle's role as the harbinger of untimely death in the original film and becomes instead a protective talisman for its wearer.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of harbinger
Verb
  • Lee saw the events foreshadowing a dark future for his country and maybe the world — changes in technology and wealth leaving workers behind.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That framing foreshadowed a moment a few months later that would push Carney even further onto the world stage.
    — Desiree Adib, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of foreshadow
Verb
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced a plan to sever the Islamic Republic's financial connections around the world.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The news comes after the movie theater announced its closure, leaving New Yorkers mourning at the loss.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of announce
Noun
  • The mere existence of such a network, proponents say, would give would-be criminals pause, knowing there’s nowhere to run without being watched.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The memo is a bit surprising considering Gates still advises Microsoft, one of the major proponents of the technology, and an investor in OpenAI.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of proponent
Noun
  • Margaret and Alice are the forerunners of Lucy and Ethel, and Shakespeare’s comedy, written expressly to entertain, gives us a sense of what an Elizabethan-era situation comedy might look like.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • One of the forerunners today in Madeira and the Azores is António Maçanita from Azores Wine Company.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of forerunner
Verb
  • In April, for example, the head of the International Energy Agency predicted that flights may soon need to be grounded in Europe due to jet fuel shortages.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Processor defenses leave a tiny opening Modern processors improve performance by predicting which path a program is likely to follow and beginning the work before the correct path is confirmed.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of predict
Verb
  • Historians say the horns may have been blown to scare evil spirits, to proclaim victories, or as a way to encourage divine mercy.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The right of women to the ballot was formally made a part of the constitution of the United States today when Secretary of State Colby proclaimed ratification of the nineteenth amendment.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of proclaim

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Cite this Entry

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herald

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herald

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