Synonyms of cast

cast 1 of 6

verb (1)

ˈkast 

1

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

• radiate
• release
• emit
• emanate
• expel
• shoot
• send (out)
• eliminate
• issue
• exhale
• evolve
• throw out
• discharge
• pour
• give out
• irradiate
• vent
• expire
• evacuate
• exude
• erupt
• ooze
• excrete
• secrete
• jet
• spray
• eject
• gush
• spew
• spout
• squirt
• spurt
• outpour

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take up
• absorb
• inhale
• soak (up)
• suck (up)
• sponge

2

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

• aim
• set
• direct
• head
• hold
• bend
• train
• steer
• focus
• sight
• pinpoint
• level
• face
• concentrate
• bear
• orient
• incline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deflect
• curve
• avert
• divert
• shunt
• detour
• sidetrack
• rechannel

3

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

• prepare
• compose
• draft
• write
• craft
• draw up
• formulate
• put together
• frame
• sculpture
• mold
• make
• form
• shape
• word
• build
• pen
• phrase
• fabricate
• assemble
• couch
• author
• construct
• state
• devise
• fashion
• express
• conceive
• compound
• verbalize
• piece (together)
• concoct
• indite
• redraft
• reframe
• reformulate

4

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

• throw
• toss
• hurl
• fling
• sling
• fire
• launch
• let fly
• chuck
• heave
• pitch
• lob
• catapult
• peg
• dart
• bowl
• gun
• dash
• pelt
• flip
• hurtle
• roll
• loft
• thrust
• hook
• pass
• precipitate
• rifle
• shoot
• project
• propel
• eject
• impel
• buck

cast

2 of 6

noun (1)

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

• prediction
• forecast
• predicting
• forecasting
• prophecy
• sign
• prognosis
• prognostic
• bodement
• prognostication
• soothsaying
• vaticination
• auguring
• anticipation
• prognosticating
• augury
• foretelling
• presaging
• omen
• harbinger
• prevision
• guess
• conjecture
• portent
• foreknowledge
• surmise
• prospectus
• foreboding
• foresight

2

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

• shade
• color
• tone
• hue
• tint
• tinge
• coloration
• coloring
• tincture
• contrast
• brightness
• undertone
• overtone
• primary color
• secondary color
• lightness
• value
• chroma
• tertiary color
• saturation
• pigmentation
• chromaticity
• colorway

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• achromatism

3

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

• glance
• glimpse
• look
• peek
• peep
• view
• gaze
• stare
• glare
• sight
• eye
• gander
• regard
• side-glance
• ogle
• gape
• leer
• squint
• squinny
• coup d'oeil

4

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

• look
• expression
• face
• smile
• grin
• countenance
• visage
• scowl
• mouth
• presence
• appearance
• frown
• bearing
• grimace
• air
• demeanor
• lower
• pout
• manner
• aspect
• mien

5

as in shape

the outward appearance of something as distinguished from its substance

the lovely cast of the baby's features

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shape
• form
• geometry
• figure
• fashion
• configuration
• silhouette
• outline
• conformation
• contour
• shell
• skeleton
• design
• frame
• profile
• framework
• plan
• organization
• layout
• pattern
• arrangement
• format
• setup
• makeup

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• material
• composition
• matter
• substance
• stuff
• raw material

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

• dump
• discard
• ditch
• unload
• lose
• shuck (off)
• slough (off)
• fling (off or away)
• throw away
• shed
• scrap
• sluff (off)
• dispose of
• abandon
• reject
• set aside
• jettison
• throw out
• lay by
• remove
• exorcise
• toss
• chuck
• eliminate
• junk
• dismiss
• cashier
• eighty-six
• deep-six
• root (out)
• pitch
• abdicate
• kick out
• stamp (out)
• forsake
• wipe out
• eradicate
• desert
• abolish
• exterminate
• extirpate
• expunge
• annihilate
• extinguish
• liquidate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopt
• use
• take on
• embrace
• employ
• utilize
• keep
• hold
• retain
• hold back

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

• add
• tot (up)
• tote (up)
• foot (up)
• sum
• calculate
• count
• put together
• compute
• total
• totalize
• summate
• number
• table
• work out
• cipher
• tabulate
• tell
• figure
• enumerate
• tally
• reckon
• recompute
• refigure

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

• reject
• castaway
• outcast
• pariah
• leper
• exile
• outsider
• offscouring
• untouchable
• deportee

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insider

cast-off

6 of 6

adjective

as in discarded

Related Words

• discarded
• junked
• waste
• refuse
• neglected
• jettisoned
• castaway
• ignored
• untended
• unattended
• shabby
• rejected
• disused
• vacated
• abandoned
• forsaken
• deserted
• derelict
• godforsaken
• forgotten
• vacant
• miserable
• desolate
• wretched
• void
• idle
• empty

Dissimilar Words

• reclaimed
• saved
• recovered
• redeemed
• salvaged
• retrieved
• restored
• reconditioned
• rescued
• rehabilitated
• rehabbed
• repeopled

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cast

Verb

Silina cast blame on Defense Minister Andris Spruds and fired him on Sunday. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 May 2026

At the same time, a growing backlash has taken shape among conservatives in recent months, casting the programs as wasteful and vulnerable to abuse. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 15 May 2026

Noun

Having opened for Paul Simon (Graceland) in 2018 with his band ‘Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit’, Flynn comes full circle and joins the cast as Paul himself. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 May 2026

Keionte Scott arrived at rookie minicamp last Friday with a cast wrapped around his left hand, a reminder of the wrist injury the defensive back gutted through last season at Miami. —Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026

Noun

The 49ers, under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, have not shied away from bringing back castoffs. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026

Ira, so with a trade the team will be Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jovic and a bunch of G Leaguers or castoffs. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026

Adjective

Close to cast-off time, the tour company canceled the excursion. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Nov. 2025

And its current depth chart at the position is headed by Anthony Richardson and New York Giants cast-off Daniel Jones. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025

Phrases Containing cast

• cast (off)
• cast (up)
• cast about (for)
• cast around (for)
• cast down
• cast out