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Synonyms

prophetic

American  
[pruh-fet-ik] / prəˈfɛt ɪk /
Sometimes prophetical

adjective

  1. of or relating to a prophet.

    prophetic inspiration.

  2. of the nature of or containing prophecy.

    prophetic writings.

  3. having the function or powers of a prophet, as a person.

  4. predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous.

    prophetic signs; prophetic warnings.
prophetic British  
/ prəˈfɛtɪk /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a prophet or prophecy

  2. containing or of the nature of a prophecy; predictive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • hyperprophetic adjective
  • hyperprophetical adjective
  • hyperprophetically adverb
  • nonprophetic adjective
  • nonprophetical adjective
  • nonprophetically adverb
  • postprophetic adjective
  • postprophetical adjective
  • preprophetic adjective
  • propheticality noun
  • prophetically adverb
  • propheticalness noun
  • pseudoprophetic adjective
  • pseudoprophetical adjective
  • quasi-prophetic adjective
  • quasi-prophetical adjective
  • quasi-prophetically adverb
  • unprophetic adjective
  • unprophetical adjective
  • unprophetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of prophetic

First recorded in 1585–95; from Late Latin prophēticus, from Greek prophētikós; equivalent to prophet + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

NAR evangelist Sean Feucht posted to Facebook: “President Trump posts the exact prophetic word about him from Kim Clement in Redding, California in 2007.”

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

But the novel’s true greatness lies in its prophetic allegorical power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

It certainly seems like the Cannes jury made some prophetic choices: the crop of films that premiered at the festival earned a total of 19 Oscar nominations.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Harry Redknapp's public defence of a young Frank Lampard in his early days at West Ham is as famous as it was prophetic.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

“Anything more?” asked Laurie, finding it hard to listen patiently to this prophetic burst.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.