CASTABLE Synonyms: 372 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'cast' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cast are fling , hurl , pitch , sling , throw , and toss . While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering. // cast it to the winds

Q: When might 'fling' be a better fit than 'cast'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cast , fling stresses a violent throwing. // flung the ring back in his face

Q: When can 'hurl' be used instead of 'cast'?

The words hurl and cast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight. // hurled himself at the intruder

Q: When would 'pitch' be a good substitute for 'cast'?

The words pitch and cast can be used in similar contexts, but pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target. // pitch horseshoes

Q: Where would 'sling' be a reasonable alternative to 'cast'?

Although the words sling and cast have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim. // slung the bag over his shoulder

Q: When is it sensible to use 'throw' instead of 'cast'?

The meanings of throw and cast largely overlap; however, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm. // can throw a fastball and a curve

Q: In what contexts can 'toss' take the place of 'cast'?

While the synonyms toss and cast are close in meaning, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion. // tossed the coat on the bed

Q: How is the word 'cast' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cast are fling , hurl , pitch , sling , throw , and toss . While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering. // cast it to the winds

Q: When might 'fling' be a better fit than 'cast'?

While in some cases nearly identical to cast , fling stresses a violent throwing. // flung the ring back in his face

Q: When can 'hurl' be used instead of 'cast'?

The words hurl and cast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight. // hurled himself at the intruder

cast 1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈkast

Definition of cast next

as in to radiate

to throw or give off spermaceti candles, made from whale oil, are known to cast an exceptionally bright light

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to aim

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal cast her eyes skyward for signs of the rescue plane

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to prepare

to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form carefully cast the letter of complaint as politely as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm cast a rock into the stream

Synonyms & Similar Words

cast

2 of 6

noun (1)

as in prediction

a declaration that something will happen in the future stock market analysts offered an optimistic cast for the coming year

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in shade

a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished the walls had a slight yellowish cast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

achromatism

as in glance

an instance of looking especially briefly a mischievous cast in his eye when we asked what our destination would be

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in look

facial appearance regarded as an indication of mood or feeling his face took on a somewhat sad cast when we asked how his ill wife was faring

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in shape

the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance the lovely cast of the baby's features

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cast (off)

3 of 6

verb (2)

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted once she became rich and didn't need them anymore, she cast off all her old friends like so much junk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cast (up)

4 of 6

verb (3)

as in to add

to combine (numbers) into a single sum had worked as a clerk in a countinghouse, mainly casting up long columns of figures every day

Synonyms & Similar Words

castoff

5 of 6

noun (2)

as in reject

one who is cast out or rejected by society a castoff who later became a famous poet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

insider

cast-off

6 of 6

adjective

as in discarded

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cast distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cast are fling, hurl, pitch, sling, throw, and toss. While all these words mean "to cause to move swiftly through space by a propulsive movement or a propelling force," cast usually implies lightness in the thing thrown and sometimes a scattering.

cast it to the winds

When might fling be a better fit than cast?

While in some cases nearly identical to cast, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When can hurl be used instead of cast?

The words hurl and cast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When would pitch be a good substitute for cast?

The words pitch and cast can be used in similar contexts, but pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

Where would sling be a reasonable alternative to cast?

Although the words sling and cast have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When is it sensible to use throw instead of cast?

The meanings of throw and cast largely overlap; however, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

In what contexts can toss take the place of cast?

While the synonyms toss and cast are close in meaning, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

How is the word cast distinct from other similar verbs?

cast it to the winds

When might fling be a better fit than cast?

While in some cases nearly identical to cast, fling stresses a violent throwing.

flung the ring back in his face

When can hurl be used instead of cast?

The words hurl and cast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurl implies power as in throwing a massive weight.

hurled himself at the intruder

When would pitch be a good substitute for cast?

The words pitch and cast can be used in similar contexts, but pitch suggests throwing carefully at a target.

pitch horseshoes

Where would sling be a reasonable alternative to cast?

Although the words sling and cast have much in common, sling stresses either the use of whirling momentum in throwing or directness of aim.

slung the bag over his shoulder

When is it sensible to use throw instead of cast?

The meanings of throw and cast largely overlap; however, throw is general and interchangeable with the other terms but may specifically imply a distinctive motion with bent arm.

can throw a fastball and a curve

In what contexts can toss take the place of cast?

While the synonyms toss and cast are close in meaning, toss suggests a light or careless or aimless throwing and may imply an upward motion.

tossed the coat on the bed

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 cast

Verb

Along with the photo, the streamer has added 13 recurring stars to cast. —

Selome Hailu, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026 More early ballots have so far been cast in Republican-leaning districts where voters may be more inclined to vote against the redistricting measure, according to data compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project. —

Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026

Noun

Both Hulu and the cast decided to pause filming for season five on March 16 after Draper City police confirmed a domestic-violence investigation into Paul and Dakota Mortensen from a dispute in late February. —

Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026 Additional cast members include Max Parker as Heimdall, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson as Thor, Mandy Patinkin as Odin, Alastair Duncan as Mimir, Danny Woodburn and Jeff Gulka as as brothers Brok and Sindri, and Ed Skrein as Baldur. —

Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026

Noun

Women aren’t simply looking for grandma’s castoffs, though. —

Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 The overarching idea, which brands like Adidas have played with to varying degrees of success, is that making everything out of a single material eliminates the need to strip castoff garments of fiddly buttons and zippers, a time-consuming and often expensive process. —

Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Horák had similarly repurposed cast-off items to deliver a vegetarian course of cavatelli pasta. —

Christine Muhlke, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2025 There was blood cast-off on the walls in various places, including above Xana's body. —

Robert Birsel hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cast

Adjective

In another development, researchers in the US developed a new method that could turn discarded data center hardware into a reliable, eco-friendly source of rare earths and valuable metals.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2025

Definition of discarded

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cast. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cast

verb (1)

noun (1)

verb (2)

verb (3)

noun (2)

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

A Drudge of Lexicographers Presents:...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on cast

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shenanigans

Popular in Grammar & Usage

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Popular

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Games & Quizzes

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing cast

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to cast

A Drudge of Lexicographers Presents:...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on cast

More from Merriam-Webster

Popular in Grammar & Usage

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Popular

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Games & Quizzes