The slowest one to make a promise is the most faithful one in keeping it.
Source: tatoeba (1869)
Promise
/ˈpɹɒmɪs/
Synonyms for "promise" (285 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (57)
accedeaccordactuarial predictionadumbrationafford hopeagreeagree toagreementapocalypsearrangementaspirationassentassumptionassuranceassureassured faithauguraugur wellauguryauspice
Show 19 more words
avouchbargainbargain forbe promisingbespeakbetokenbetokeningbetokenmentbid fairbid fair tobinding agreementbodebondcapabilitycartelcheercheerful expectationcollective agreementcommitment
Noun(11 words)
appearaptitudesassuranceassurancesbetrothalbetrothedcitizenship oathclassroom energy project potentialcommitcommit tocommitments
Adjective(1 words)
ceremonial pledge
Strong matches (86)
compactconfidenceconsentconsortiumcontractconventionconvictioncountersigncovenantcovenant of saltdealdependencedesiredickerdo a dealdoomed hopeearnestemployment contractengageengagement
Show 52 more words
ensureexpectationfair prospectfaithfervent hopeforebodingforecastforecastingforeshadowforeshadowingforeshowforeshowingforesightforetellforetellingforetokenforetokeningformal agreementgive hopegive indication ofgive prospect ofgood cheergood hopegreat expectationsguaranteeguarantyguessworkhave favorable oddshave good prospectshigh hopeshinthint athold out hopehold out promisehopehopeful prognosishopefulnesshopeshopinghoping against hopeimplyimprobabilityincrease the chancesindicantindicateindicationinspireinspire hopeinspiritinsureironclad agreementjustify hope
Verb(3 words)
Noun(7 words)
Adjective(4 words)
Related words (142)
Noun(27 words)
language unit conceptlookmakingsmarriage vownorwegian bokmål løfteoathsold norse orðperformance capacitypledgepledgespledgingpotentialpotentialnessprospectquality assurancereassurancesseemspanish afirmarswearsundertake
Show 7 more words
legal agreementlegal contractlikelihoodlook likemake a dealmake a promisemake fair promisemake likelymake more likelymake probablemeanmutual agreementoathobligationoffer the expectationomenpactpactionparolepass
Show 81 more words
pawnpledgeplightportendportentpossibilitypotentialprayerful hopepredictionprefigurationprefigurementprefiguringpreindicationpremonitory shiverpremonitory signpremonitory symptompresagepresagingpresentimentpreshowingpresignifyingpresumptionprobabilityprobabilizeprognosisprognosticprognosticationprophecyprophesyprophesyingprospectprospectsprospectusprotocolraise expectationraise expectationsraise hopereassurerelianceresolutionsanguine expectationsecurityseem likelyshadowshow a tendencyshow signs ofsignsmooth the waysoothsayspeculationspellstand fair tostatistical predictionstipulatestipulationsubscribesubscriptionsuggestsupportsweartokentokeningtransactiontrothtrusttypeunderstandingundertakeundertakingunderwriteunion contractvalid contractvaticinationvouchvowwage contractwarrantwarrantywell-grounded hopewordword of honor
Adjective(5 words)
marital vowmusical talentoccitan promesaoral pledgeunformed clay
Verb(9 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accede, accord, actuarial prediction, adumbration, afford hope.
- Sentence evidence is available for promise, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, 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 "promise".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "promise"
Keep "promise" 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 "promise" 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 "promise", 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 "promise" 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
22 entriesShowing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
10 entriesCollocations
6 entriesbinding promisepersonal promisepromissory notesolemn promiseverbal promisewritten promise
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
7 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
You must promise not to take the rope off.
Source: tatoeba (16617)
You must stick to your promise.
Source: tatoeba (16813)
I rest on your promise.
Source: tatoeba (16876)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "promise"?
Closest matches include accede, accord, actuarial prediction, adumbration, afford hope.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "promise"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.