forecast 1 of 2

forecast

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of forecast are foretell, predict, prognosticate, and prophesy. While all these words mean "to tell beforehand," forecast adds the implication of anticipating eventualities and differs from predict in being usually concerned with probabilities rather than certainties.

forecast snow

When can foretell be used instead of forecast?

The words foretell and forecast can be used in similar contexts, but foretell applies to the telling of the coming of a future event by any procedure or any source of information.

seers foretold the calamity

When could predict be used to replace forecast?

The synonyms predict and forecast are sometimes interchangeable, but predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.

astronomers predicted an eclipse

How is prognosticate related to other words for forecast?

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

Where would prophesy be a reasonable alternative to forecast?

While the synonyms prophesy and forecast are close in meaning, 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 forecast
Noun
South Florida has lived these lousy afternoons all week — and Friday’s forecast calls for more of the same. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 As always with space weather, forecasts carry uncertainty and auroras can be fickle. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Next year, Swinburne forecasts the box office could get to $11 billion, which would put it back to its 2019 levels. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025 Weather forecast ahead Here are peak storm chances in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas Friday through Monday, according to Weather Underground. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forecast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forecast
Noun
  • Tropical weather experts at Colorado State University echo these predictions, saying overall atmospheric conditions, including wind patterns, will shift in a manner that supports a notable increase in activity.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • My preseason prediction of nine wins feels very much in play.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Before all that happened, though, there was the eight-course dinner, which went totally fine as predicted.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Explore Fall, a website that provides resources and tools to track the changing colors of leaves, is predicting an earlier and quicker fall foliage peak for the millions of people looking to see this year's natural spectacle.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With the 2025 college football season on the horizon, months of previewing and predicting soon will be in the rearview mirror.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Its data will feed directly into NOAA's forecasting models to help safeguard satellites, communications systems and power grids from geomagnetic storms.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The team is now preparing to launch on the Bittensor network with a time series forecasting project in finance, finalizing their incentive mechanism, miner, and validator design.
    Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But at least some of that conflict comes from false assumptions, and some of it comes from turning their preconceptions into self-fulfilling prophecies.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Whether or not that is the beginning of the end for linear TV is a prophecy game more than anything right now.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forecast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forecast. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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