HERALD Synonyms: 165 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

herald 1 of 2

noun

ˈher-əld

Definition of herald

as in advocate

a person who actively supports or favors a cause an outspoken herald of prison reform

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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 heralds operate like independent contractors, with their own caseloads. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026 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

Verb

But having to navigate designing a hopeful film, one devoid of an antagonist that also heralds a positive view of AI, was a challenge in its own right. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Likewise, many a technology before – from electricity and the telegraph to phone and radio – have been heralded as sublime, magical, revolutionary, and terrifying. — Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herald

Recent Examples of Synonyms for herald

Noun

However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The city’s independent ratepayer advocate, Timothy O’Connor, agreed that high temperatures were a big driver of the skyrocketing bills, with more people moving into Tier 2 and Tier 3.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

Breast Cancer Month events The Gulliver swimmers’ July fundraiser for the American Cancer Society was a harbinger of what remains a busy October in Miami-Dade and Broward for Breast Cancer Month awareness events.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Related What were once blips on the modern music timeline now feel like harbingers of things to come for 2027.

— Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of harbinger

Verb

But a narrow overtime loss to the Detroit Lions in the season opener foreshadowed the difficult road ahead.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
And the angelic youth Dorian Gray’s deadly descent into vanity and vice—ignited by a hubristic obsession with his own image—eerily foreshadows the grim trajectory of Wilde’s later years.

— Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of foreshadow

Verb

Trump blindsided Zelenskyy last weekend by announcing that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to target each other's energy facilities.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
In recent weeks, legal trouble has brewed between her estate and nephew Brian Seaver, who was also her longtime head of security and the one who announced her passing to fans in a video on her social media.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of announce

Noun

The billionaire tax fight grew more contentious last month after the lead proponent of the measure, SEIU UHW President Dave Regan, was accused of harassing female colleagues and threatening other union leaders to urge them to back the measure.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
The biggest proponent of Proposition NN is the Colorado Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union.

— Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Rather than try to replicate his forerunners’ styles of success, Ternus has so far played to his own strengths—which are also those of Apple, a company that first and foremost builds beautiful products that spark productivity, creativity, and joy.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Dubbed the ‘American Turtle’ for its appearance, the submarine made three attempts to blow up British ships without success, but is considered the forerunner of modern submarines.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of forerunner

Verb

Sullivan has evolved into the stardom predicted for him since his days kicking the ball around with his brothers inside and outside of his northeast Philadelphia home.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
The playoff projections are based on a Monte Carlo simulation, a computation of random sampling used to predict outcomes, of the 2026 season.

— Loren Maxwell, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of predict

Browse Nearby Words

heptathlons

herald

heralded

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Herald.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herald. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of herald

noun

verb

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Synonyms of herald

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to herald

'Picayune', 'Tribune', and 7 More Names...

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on herald

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

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Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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Games & Quizzes