as in prediction
a declaration that something will happen in the future
the ludicrous foretellings of self-styled psychics at the end of each year
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in predicting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in reading
to tell of or describe beforehand
a 16th-century astrologer who, some claim, accurately foretold 20th-century events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foretelling
Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Apparently, the little man was an oracle, foretelling deaths with certainty.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
The opening night in Brazil provided the ominous but apparently foretelling moment, when one star player left his passing lane on a game-deciding third down.
—Sam McDowell December 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
The track, written and produced by Danny Elfman, premiered in the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas (foretelling the blend of Halloween and Christmas decorations on the latest chart).
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Those are the conclusions of two recent reports about spiraling utility bills, one looking at the past, the other foretelling the future.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Miami had been favored by 13 1/2 points but that whittled to 10 1/2 by kickoff, perhaps foretelling the close game as late gambling money flooded to the Cardinals.
—Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
An optimist would read the internal market action in recent weeks as foretelling an early-cycle reacceleration/reflation dynamic setting up.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Million-Follower Detective (February 12) This eight-episode Taiwanese crime thriller follows a mysterious woman who rises to fame and becomes a powerful influencer after accurately foretelling the murders of several social-media influencers.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Apparently, the little man was an oracle, foretelling deaths with certainty.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
The opening night in Brazil provided the ominous but apparently foretelling moment, when one star player left his passing lane on a game-deciding third down.
—Sam McDowell December 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Dec. 2025
The track, written and produced by Danny Elfman, premiered in the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas (foretelling the blend of Halloween and Christmas decorations on the latest chart).
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 11 Nov. 2025
Those are the conclusions of two recent reports about spiraling utility bills, one looking at the past, the other foretelling the future.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Miami had been favored by 13 1/2 points but that whittled to 10 1/2 by kickoff, perhaps foretelling the close game as late gambling money flooded to the Cardinals.
—Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
An optimist would read the internal market action in recent weeks as foretelling an early-cycle reacceleration/reflation dynamic setting up.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foretelling
Noun
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Several inches of snow were expected to fall over the following day with the heaviest prediction of 8-12 inches falling on Tuesday.—
Emilie Stigliani,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Last week, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first NBA player to openly endorse—and take direct equity in—a prediction market platform.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The modern era is full of those predicting that the industrialization of the housing industry is just a few years away, only to be proved wrong.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson had just trounced Michael Dukakis in the Michigan presidential primary — despite polls predicting Dukakis would win easily.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Also, some weather forecasting models are bringing yet another storm into our area Sunday and Monday.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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According to European Avalanche Warning Services, an avalanche forecasting service that also tracks fatalities, an average of 100 people die in European avalanches each year.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Rain is expected to return to the Central Valley late Monday, according to the weather service’s forecast discussion.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 20,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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The spending is based on forecasts that imports will continue to grow faster than the US economy as a whole, and that Trump’s push to make America more self-reliant won’t change that.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Aziz’s muse commands, a prophesy of things to come, and the stage goes black.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
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From this work, Wiener drew two warnings that now read as prophecy.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foretelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foretelling. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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