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foretell

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of foretell

to tell of or describe beforehand
  • a 16th-century astrologer who, some claim, accurately foretold 20th-century events
Synonyms of foretell

augur, call, forecast, predict, presage, prognosticate, prophesy, read
Words Related to foretell

alert, caution, forewarn, warn

bode, forebode (also forbode), portend, promise

anticipate, divine, foreknow, foresee

announce, declare, herald, proclaim
Near Antonyms of foretell

describe, narrate, recite, recount, relate, report, tell

Synonym Discussion of foretell

foretell, predict, forecast, prophesy, prognosticate mean to tell beforehand. foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information.
    • seers foretold the calamity
predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.
    • astronomers predicted an eclipse
forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties.
    • forecast snow
prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises.
    • prophesying a new messiah
prognosticate is used less often than the other words; it may suggest learned or skilled interpretation, but more often it is simply a colorful substitute for predict or prophesy.
    • prognosticating the future

Learn More about foretell

  1. See words that rhyme with foretell Dictionary: Definition of foretell Spanish Central: Translation of foretell Nglish: Translation of foretell for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of foretell for Arabic speakers

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