as in forerunner
something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event
the preaching of John the Baptist is generally regarded by Christians as a prefiguring of the ministry of Jesus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in foreshadowing
to give a slight indication of beforehand
the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefiguring
Noun
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Yet this brand of Christian Zionism is clearly the forerunner to today’s – and holds sway in Washington.—
Shalom Goldman,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025 -
The title is an apt, if sort of obvious, introduction to Turner, who has been hailed as the forerunner to modern art.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Dreamgirls star provided some foreshadowing of the big day in a November 2006 interview with Cosmopolitan.—
Emy LaCroix,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Could this be a foreshadowing of how the Opening Day lineup might look?—
Katie Woo,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Visitors are invited to park their cars and wander up the driveway to see cartoon characters and creatures heralding festive cheer.—
Patrick Connolly,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Dec. 2024
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In October 2022, the school held an inauguration ceremony heralding her arrival.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
In addition, neighborhoods would no longer be required — as a precursor to meters — to test out two-hour and three-hour parking zones enforced by chalking tires instead of meters.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
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Directed by Arthur Penn, who brought a bold visual style, frank sexuality and graphic, balletic violence to a Hollywood dominated by optimistic pictures, this countercultural romance served as a precursor to the generational tension and mistrust in authority that was quietly pervading the country.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There’s a kind of implicit prayer in this that the withering of today’s Hollywood system is a presage for something better, giving the entire production a painful, nostalgic quality that tugs at your chest even as what unfolds before you is remarkably dumb.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2025
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In politics, there are liars and better liars How the Biden administration helped avoid a coup in Guatemala China’s meddling in Taiwan election presages year of misinformation threats Need help keeping up with this tumultuous election?—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
12 Jan. 2024
Verb
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This simulation helps in predicting potential impacts and unforeseen outcomes that may arise from format adjustments.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
28 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile Chinese oil companies are predicting peak oil demand as widespread electric vehicle usage in the nation is replacing gasoline guzzlers.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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The natural threat of the caterpillars has shown up in cultural expressions as a symbolic portent of human mortality, Battisti points out.—
Ivan Amato,
Scientific American,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Butler was bothered after the discussion because Butler and his agent perceived that Heat officials were implying that Butler didn’t play his hardest in the Heat’s home win over the Pelicans on Wednesday.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
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Two days later, Jerry Jones offered a reason for Elliott’s decrease in time on the field, once again implying that he was being saved for the latter part of the season.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Prefiguring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefiguring. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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