FORWARD-LOOKING Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

forward-looking

adjective

ˈfȯr-wərd-ˌlu̇-kiŋ

Definition of forward-looking

as in cautious

having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future a forward-looking business plan designed to take full advantage of emerging technologies

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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 forward-looking Everyone is focusing more on engagement, return on investment and a forward-looking perspective, rather than simply buying something off the shelf to meet demand for the following weekend. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 These rankings are forward-looking, and will change as the season progresses. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Tony has led at the highest levels of government, respected for his intellect, strategic vision and ability to bring people together around bold, forward-looking ideas. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026 Business development leaders who pair near-term revenue metrics with forward-looking signals—customer expansion, strategic partnerships and market learning—can quickly adjust to change while steadily building durable, compounding growth. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forward-looking

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forward-looking

Adjective

During this time, mature bucks become increasingly active and less cautious to establish dominance within their territory.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
The challenge now is balancing expansion with operational discipline, particularly as Cava enters new markets and consumers become more cautious about spending.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of cautious

Adjective

There’s that Japanese concept of space and pause—in the wide corridors, the uncluttered lobby, the careful symmetry.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
The first step was to tailor it to her size, while being careful to preserve the bespoke construction.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of careful

Adjective

Everything has unintended consequences, and attempting to capture these trade-offs across the whole ecosystem — much of which sits outside of a brand’s control — would paralyze even the most proactive nature lead.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Mejia said his office does not have the manpower to conduct proactive audits of the department, with only eight available auditors who are able to complete two to three audits a year.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of proactive

Adjective

Von Donnersmarck set The Lives of Others in the same year that Orwell’s prescient fiction takes place, so this production seems like a match made in dystopian heaven.

— Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
With the purification industry tracking to reach $35 billion in less than a decade, the brands that capitalize on purification with prescient solutions have opportunity ahead.

— Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of prescient

Adjective

Some farsighted experts have warned that AI could devastate the job market and widen the divisions that mark today’s politics and society.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
Private markets chronically undersave, leaving future generations with less capital than a farsighted society would choose to bequeath.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of farsighted

Adjective

The avant-garde revolution of the ’60s produced many visionary jazz musicians, but few were able to perform at both Carnegie Hall and the White House.

— Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
The idea was associated with visionary eighteenth-century architects like Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and Étienne-Louis Boullée—perhaps the most famous example is Ledoux’s Oikema, a proposal for a brothel shaped like a massive phallus.

— Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of visionary

Browse Nearby Words

forwarding

forward-looking

forwardness

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Style

“Forward-looking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forward-looking. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of forward-looking

adjective

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