predict

Synonym Chooser

How is the word predict different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of predict are forecast, foretell, prognosticate, and prophesy. While all these words mean "to tell beforehand," predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.

astronomers predicted an eclipse

How are the words forecast and predict related?

Forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties.

forecast snow

Where would foretell be a reasonable alternative to predict?

While the synonyms foretell and predict are close in meaning, foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information.

seers foretold the calamity

How does the word prognosticate relate to other synonyms for predict?

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

When can prophesy be used instead of predict?

The words prophesy and predict can be used in similar contexts, but prophesy connotes inspired or mystic knowledge of the future especially as the fulfilling of divine threats or promises.

prophesying a new messiah

Example Sentences

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 predict The quality of the quarterbacks is one of the many reasons experts are predicting another close conference race with potentially more than five contenders in the mix to be the Big 12 champions. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025 Earlier this year, 2024 Nobel prize winner Daron Acemoglu predicted that AI adoption will increase the U.S. GDP by only as much as 1.6 percent in the next decade, while productivity would only increase 0.05 percent. Michael Barclay, Quartz, 19 May 2025 That’s more in profits than consultant AP Triton predicted before the city agreed in summer 2023 to a three-year deal with private providers Falck USA and American Medical Response to create the alliance model. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025 During the finale, a video was shown where contestant Breanna Nix — who came in third place — predicted Roberts would be the winner earlier in the season. Daniela Avila, People.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for predict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predict
Verb
  • As a result, the surface of the land and sea is an open book that anyone with an internet connection can read to the point where the embarrassing launch failure of a North Korean frigate is instantly world news instead of a vague rumor.
    David Szondy May 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025
  • The share who said students should learn to read in kindergarten increased to 80 percent from 31 percent.
    Claire Cain Miller, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • In practice, Kearney’s geopolitical dynamics team takes an end-to-end view of what is happening globally, helps anticipate, prioritize and respond to the impacts of what’s happening in the market.
    Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 20 May 2025
  • Fans will be eagerly anticipating their next album, which is on the way.
    Adam Davidson, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • But is the past foolproof in foretelling the future?
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
  • Ultimately, lawyers can’t foretell what will happen at the airport, Oza said.
    Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Verb
  • While the promise of forecasting customer behavior, optimizing operations and boosting efficiency was clear, the reality was often out of reach for most businesses.
    Zohar Bronfman, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • At the end of April, a report from Oxford Economics forecast that U.S. industrial output would shrink by 0.8 percent between 2025 and 2026 as a direct result of the tariffs.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Bolden, who’d warned about lax security practices around President John F. Kennedy, was charged in 1964 with attempting to sell a copy of a Secret Service file to a ring of counterfeiters.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
  • Landsbergis’ own Plan B starts with his home region, the Baltic countries, which have been among the most stalwart in warning the world about Russian aggression and providing aid for Ukraine.
    Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • But our sorry showing in the early rounds undercuts any claim to prognosticating success.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Most other publications didn’t even bother prognosticating.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This unilateral order presaged a series of alarming power grabs in the following months—beginning with immigration.
    Kica Matos, Time, 2 May 2025
  • Now, though, an executive order signed by President Trump could presage legal challenges of pioneering California laws that overhauled school discipline by banning willful defiance suspensions for K-12 students.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • The impending launch, which SpaceX officially announced on Friday, May 23 a day after getting key regulatory approval, could be visible halfway around the world as the 400-foot vehicle soars on a suborbital trajectory.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Screen was first to report this news and announced that the power outage is currently affecting a large area of the Alpes-Maritime region.
    Maelle Beauget-Uhl, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Predict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predict. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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