prescience

noun

ˈpre-sh(ē-)ən(t)s How to pronounce prescience (audio)
Definition of presciencenext
1
as in foresight
the special ability to see or know about events before they actually occur most believers would probably agree that complete prescience is one of God's attributes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in providence
concern or preparation for the future parents who had the prescience to make everything in their house childproof before the arrival of their first baby

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prescience Nearly two years later, Cossington’s words ring with alarming prescience. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 If anything, his adaptation proves Mary Shelley’s prescience. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 In a bit of prescience, Wallace explains how consumerist culture can prime a state for fascism. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026 Carlson never went that far, but Murdoch didn’t forget his prescience. — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prescience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prescience
  1. foresight
  2. providence
  3. foreknowledge
  4. vision
  5. divination
  6. forethought
Noun
  • The horrors of uncertainty are translated into the language of manageable risk—risk that somebody, somewhere, has the responsibility and foresight to manage.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
  • Looking ahead, the sector demands foresight, anticipating future requirements driven by automation and AI to design adaptable spaces.
    — James Nelson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of foresight
Noun
  • Papyrologist Federica Nicolardi said on Thursday at the same event that the team has already identified a number of intriguing passages, including some on the nature of deities and providence.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
  • That there is no providence, only circumstance.
    — Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of providence
Noun
  • But if a 12-year-old Spider-Man fan in Dubuque, Iowa, got to watch the film without any foreknowledge, then the gambit was more than worth it.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026
  • That is one future no amount of foreknowledge or planning can avoid.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Definition of foreknowledge
Noun
  • Camera-wise, the WP68 Air gives you a 64-MP main camera, a 32-MP selfie camera, an 8-MP IR night-vision camera, and a 2-MP macro camera.
    — Joe Salas July 26, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
  • The super-app vision quietly followed the account target out the door.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of vision
Noun
  • The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • The dichotomy exists then and now, which is why Plath’s work has longevity, and tarot is still a powerful form of divination because both speak to the soul.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Definition of divination
Noun
  • And the park can only be accessed by boat or float plane, so a visit to Katmai National Park and Preserve requires a decent amount of forethought.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
  • Perhaps because these gatherings require so much forethought, spending the entire evening in a single establishment feels wasteful.
    — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
Definition of forethought

Browse Nearby Words

preschools
prescience
prescient
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Prescience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prescience. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of sultry

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All