Prophesy

/ˈpɹɑfɪsaɪ/

Synonyms for "prophesy" (80 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (16)

adumbrateanticipateapproachaugurawaitbe destinedbe fatedbe imminentbe to bebe to comebodecallcast a horoscopecast a nativity
Noun(1 words)
amos
Verb(1 words)
anticipate

Strong matches (24)

comecome ondivinedopedope outdowse for waterdraw neardraw onenvisionexpectforebodeforecastforeseeforeshadowforetell
Noun(3 words)
divinesdiviningfores

Related words (40)

forewarnfortune tellfortune-tellguessharbingerhariolateheraldhopelie aheadlook forlook forward toloommake a predictionmake a prognosismake a prophecynearplanplotportendpredict
Show 15 more words
prefigurepresageprognosticateprojectpromiseread palmsread tea leavesread the futuresoothsayspeculatetelltell fortunestell the futurethreatenvaticinate

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: adumbrate, amos, anticipate, anticipate, approach.
  • Sentence evidence is available for prophesy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, 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 "prophesy".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "prophesy"

Keep "prophesy" 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 "prophesy" 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 "prophesy", 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 "prophesy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

12 entries

More specific

3 entries

Collocations

5 entries
prophesy accuratelyprophesy doomprophesy future eventsprophesy publiclyprophesy the king's fate

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

19 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

I can not prophesy what will be the outcome of the efforts which the Filipino women are now making to obtain suffrage; but I know that these efforts must be to them, and are to us, a source of pride and glory, because they show that there is no part of our people which has remained indifferent to the great movements of the century. There are persons who scoff at them and many shrug their shoulders; but this must not discourage our women, because neither scoffing nor shrugging the shoulders are very weighty arguments.

Source: tatoeba (12183473)

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Source: wiktionary

No, but when the Spirit fils The fantastick Pannicles: Full of fier; then I write

Source: wiktionary

[…] at that very moment a loud and high-pitched voice broke the outer silence of the night. It was Chielo, the priestess of Agbala, prophesying. There was nothing new in that. Once in a while Chielo was possessed by the spirit of her god and she began to prophesy.

Source: wiktionary

Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "prophesy"?

Closest matches include adumbrate, amos, anticipate, anticipate, approach.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "prophesy"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "prophesy"

Meaning

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