A crow's cry at midnight was said to presage death in the village.
Source: tatoeba (13557622)
Presage
Synonyms for "presage" (171 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
Verb(14 words)
Strong matches (51)
cast a horoscopecast a nativityclairvoyancedivinedopedope outdowse for waterforebodeforebodingforecastforecastingforefeelingforeknowingforeknowledgeforerunforerunnerforeseeforeseeabilityforeshadowforeshow
Show 15 more words
foreshowingforesightforetellforetellingforetokenforewisdomfortune tellfortune-tellguessguessworkharbingerhariolatehave a hunchhave an intimationherald
Noun(8 words)
Related words (85)
Verb(14 words)
Noun(14 words)
hunchimprobabilityindicatemake a predictionmake a prognosismake a prophecymeanmisgivingomenportendportentpreapprehensionprecedeprecognitionpredictpredictionprefigurationprefigureprefigurementprefiguring
Show 35 more words
preindicatepremonitionprenotionpresagementpresagingpresciencepresentimentpreshowingpresignifyingprobabilityprognosisprognosticprognosticateprognosticationpromiseprophecyprophesyprophesyingprospectusread palmsread tea leavesread the futureshadowshadow forthsoothsayspeculatespeculationspellstatistical predictiontell fortunestell the futurethreatthreatenvaticinatevaticination
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: foreshadow, omen, portend, portent, actuarial prediction.
- Sentence evidence is available for presage, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "presage".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "presage"
Keep "presage" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "presage" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "presage", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "presage" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
18 entriesaugurybespeakbetokenbodingforebodingforetokenindicateindicationliterary devicenarrative devicepointpreindicationpremonitionpresentimentsign
Showing 16 of 18 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
9 entriesgrim presageill presagepresage disasterpresage doompresage ill fortunepresage misfortunepresage of doompresage troubleserve as a presage
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
5 total sentences available.
Speak frankly, Mirzes—nor believe thy words, / Whatever black preſages they contain, / Subjoin'd to all Trophonius hath foretold, / Can change my firm reſolves, or blunt my ſword.
Source: wiktionary
Glad was I when I reached the other bank. / Now for a better country. Vain presage!
Source: wiktionary
If I may truſt the flattering truth of ſleepe, / My dreames preſage ſome ioyfull newes at hand : / My boſomes L. ſits lightly in his throne : / And all this day an vnaccuſtom’d ſpirit, / Lifts me aboue the ground with cheatfull thoughts […]
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 5 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "presage"?
Closest matches include foreshadow, omen, portend, portent, actuarial prediction.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "presage"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.