as in prediction
a declaration that something will happen in the future
took the soothsayings published in the tabloids with a grain of salt
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as in predicting
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Recent Examples of soothsaying
Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 May 2025
It’s told in flashback to Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara, by the soothsaying mandrill Rafiki, with the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumbaa goofing on the sidelines.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Does Nashawaty, in his soothsaying capacity, even have the right decade?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
But it was powered by profound public discontent with Argentina’s sclerotic status quo, especially from a generation of younger voters who have seen little relief from years of endemic fiscal crisis and debt, and have no more patience for the appeals and soothsaying of the establishment.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
For now, earthquakes remains the trickiest natural disaster to predict, but our earthquake soothsaying is improving, as geologists uncover the subtle secrets of the world-shaking movements along Earth’s many fault lines.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 20 July 2023
During the panel, Travers asked O’Dowd about Dusty’s reaction to the soothsaying device.
—H. Drew Blackburn, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
And this soothsaying is anything but soothing.
—Jacob Oller, chicagotribune.com, 25 Sep. 2020
By the 17th century, English almanacs in particular were predicting plagues, earthquakes and other calamities with such profligacy that an industry of satirical almanacs sprang up to mock the earnest soothsaying of the others.
—Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2020
Adjective
As Pete says, juries almost literally live on another planet, being sequestered from the likes of us and our soothsaying.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 May 2025
It’s told in flashback to Simba and Nala’s daughter, Kiara, by the soothsaying mandrill Rafiki, with the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumbaa goofing on the sidelines.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
Does Nashawaty, in his soothsaying capacity, even have the right decade?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
But it was powered by profound public discontent with Argentina’s sclerotic status quo, especially from a generation of younger voters who have seen little relief from years of endemic fiscal crisis and debt, and have no more patience for the appeals and soothsaying of the establishment.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
For now, earthquakes remains the trickiest natural disaster to predict, but our earthquake soothsaying is improving, as geologists uncover the subtle secrets of the world-shaking movements along Earth’s many fault lines.
—Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 20 July 2023
During the panel, Travers asked O’Dowd about Dusty’s reaction to the soothsaying device.
—H. Drew Blackburn, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
And this soothsaying is anything but soothing.
—Jacob Oller, chicagotribune.com, 25 Sep. 2020
By the 17th century, English almanacs in particular were predicting plagues, earthquakes and other calamities with such profligacy that an industry of satirical almanacs sprang up to mock the earnest soothsaying of the others.
—Jack Feerick, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soothsaying
Noun
-
The problem is that making these predictions accurately is difficult.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
The speaker’s prediction may turn out to be right; those savings are coming entirely at the expense of young workers who took jobs after the tier system was established.—
Jennifer Hochschild,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Noun
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And the forecast calls for a 60% chance of rain and thunderstorms this Sunday afternoon along the same route in Fort Lauderdale, according to the National Weather Service in Miami.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
21 June 2025
-
The Anderson forecast saw two Fed rate cuts next year, as unemployment rises and the economy continues to adjust to current policies.—
Rebecca-Ann Jattan,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Keep your eyes and ears open and be prudently mindful of all prophecies concerning the future of AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War, and its conquest of the West Bank and other territory, were proof that God was fulfilling biblical prophecies.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Besides the delicious tequilas from the region, what are some other wondrous things Jalisco is known for?—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
Yes, the wondrous image of the balloon raising the house into the air, and yes, maybe the cute dog that keeps being distracted by squirrels.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Such an extraordinary move could undermine the current Fed chief and intensify the uncertainty that has bedeviled the US economy since Trump took office, former Fed officials and academics tell CNN.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
27 June 2025
-
These bargain hunters will sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to find a deal.—
Linnea Geiss,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Certainly not for novelty’s sake; we are hardly starved for dramas of mental decay, or for the stupendous feats of acting that are often achieved in their service.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2025
-
The decision to deploy Dembele as a false nine for a 3-1 home win over Lyon in mid-December proved the spark for a stupendous run of goal-scoring form in which the France international racked up 27 goals in only 22 appearances.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Furthermore, the fact the band hasn’t down-tuned or adjusted any of their songs for vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who still effortlessly sings each and every one of Iron Maiden’s songs is absolutely astonishing.—
Quentin Thane Singer,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
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But an investigation resulted in an astonishing call from the other side of the world, which revealed that ‘The GPO Girl’ was, in fact, a 25-year-old Australian, who has created more than 100 false identities.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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There's also a nod to the narrator's wife making an unexpected comeback late on, though Robbie's miraculous/implausible (delete as appropriate) return from the dead stretches credibility way past breaking point.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
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Considering her herculean effort and miraculous success, the speediness of her undoing is stunning.—
Literary Hub
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soothsaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soothsaying. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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