Synonyms of foretaste

foretaste

noun

as in symptom

somewhat formal a small or short experience of something that will not be fully experienced until later

The sudden cold snap gave us a foretaste of winter.

These layoffs are only a foretaste of what's to come.

Related Words

• symptom
• glimpse
• hint
• glimmer
• harbinger
• indication
• scent
• sign
• portent
• presage
• omen
• inkling
• breath
• clue
• prefigurement
• intimation
• whiff
• cue
• augury
• lead
• suggestion
• feeling
• mention
• wind
• foreshadower
• allusion
• idea
• inspiration
• flicker
• evidence
• implication
• inference
• token
• signal
• notion
• insinuation
• assistance
• hunch
• prompt
• innuendo
• premonition
• guidepost
• overtone
• pointer
• denotation
• key
• presentiment
• tip
• foreboding
• wink
• telltale
• nod
• suspicion
• intuition
• tip-off
• mark

Dissimilar Words

• solution
• answer

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun foretaste differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of foretaste are anticipation, outlook, and prospect. While all these words mean "an advance realization of something to come," foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

Where would anticipation be a reasonable alternative to foretaste?

In some situations, the words anticipation and foretaste are roughly equivalent. However, anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

When would outlook be a good substitute for foretaste?

The words outlook and foretaste can be used in similar contexts, but outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

When can prospect be used instead of foretaste?

The synonyms prospect and foretaste are sometimes interchangeable, but prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foretaste

Indeed, during his time in office, Frick delivered a foretaste of what could be expected if the National Socialists came to power nationally. —Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025

The Art Institute offered a foretaste of the collection through two exhibitions — one focused on Neoclassical paintings, the other on French Revolution-era drawings — in the fall. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

The Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer’s financial performance could be a foretaste of how U.S. chip export controls to China affect tech companies. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024

What is on track to happen in South Korea offers a foretaste of what lies in store for the rest of the world. —Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024