PROSPECT Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'prospect' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prospect are anticipation , foretaste , and outlook . While all these words mean "an advance realization of something to come," prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern. // the prospect of a quiet weekend

Q: When might 'anticipation' be a better fit than 'prospect'?

The words anticipation and prospect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen. // the anticipation of her arrival

Q: Where would 'foretaste' be a reasonable alternative to 'prospect'?

The synonyms foretaste and prospect are sometimes interchangeable, but foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming. // the frost was a foretaste of winter

Q: When could 'outlook' be used to replace 'prospect'?

Although the words outlook and prospect have much in common, outlook suggests a forecasting of the future. // a favorable outlook for the economy

prospect 1 of 2

noun

ˈprä-ˌspekt

Definition of prospect

as in view

all that can be seen from a certain point gazing at the wide prospect spread out before me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in candidate

one who seeks an office, honor, position, or award a good prospect for the position of auditor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in possibility

something that can develop or become actual one highly desirable prospect for the city is a major-league franchise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in anticipation

the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence the prospect of a quiet, restful Sunday ended when our basement flooded

Synonyms & Similar Words

prospect

2 of 2

verb

ˈprä-ˌspekt

as in to explore

to go into or range over for purposes of discovery soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prospect differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prospect are anticipation, foretaste, and outlook. While all these words mean "an advance realization of something to come," prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

When might anticipation be a better fit than prospect?

The words anticipation and prospect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

Where would foretaste be a reasonable alternative to prospect?

The synonyms foretaste and prospect are sometimes interchangeable, but foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

When could outlook be used to replace prospect?

Although the words outlook and prospect have much in common, outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

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 prospect

Noun

Speaking The Developer Dialect In any marketing interaction, the goal is to make the prospect feel seen, understood and empowered. — Kevin Cochrane, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Others expressed greater excitement at the prospect of McGregor and Sakraya stepping into the roles. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Can any of them stake a claim to a rotation spot and save the team some money and/or prospects this offseason? — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Included in the roster of G League and international talent are former Heat players Orlando Robinson and Cole Swider, as well as former Heat camp prospects DeJon Jareau and James Nunnally. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prospect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prospect

Noun

Some markets are allowing individuals to express views on economic, political or business outcomes, while others hone in on sports, entertainment and pop culture events.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
For the best views look 40-90 degrees away from the radiant, where the glowing trains left in the wake of the fast-moving meteors will be at their longest.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of view

Noun

After all, states like Georgia and Arizona were also once solidly red until break-out candidates—backed by party spending—upended those assumptions.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
But most of the likely Democratic candidates simply don’t agree that a genocide happened in Gaza, and reject the question’s premise.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of candidate

Noun

More than a splash of color Perhaps the more interesting possibility lies beyond multi-color printing altogether.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Major cringe, on the other hand, navigates the aesthetic affect critically and formally to induce it—viscerally exploiting its possibilities.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of possibility

Noun

Think about us on the initial roller coaster hill at this point, with anticipation building for the Friday 'fall'.

— Ron Smiley, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
The scientist’s anticipation of a breakthrough builds alongside the music, giving the familiar anthem a purpose beyond showing off the singer’s voice.

— Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of anticipation

Verb

That openness is the best thing about Cooked, a record that summons electric Miles and Popol Vuh and the Necks but mostly explores endless emotional ambiguity, offering a reminder that very few sensations are ever pure.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
The move gives Victoria House access to Gersh’s international talent network and opportunities to explore new financing and co-production partnerships, while preserving the Spanish company’s creative independence.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of explore

Noun

The debate about how to control AI and limit its potential for damage is healthy and necessary.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
While each involves risk and the potential for reward, increasingly, they’re being delivered through a remarkably similar digital experience.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of potential

Verb

The new version, which relies on Google’s Gemini AI technology, is designed to understand what is on a user’s screen and act on it, help with writing, and search a user’s phone for context, among other features.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
This is one shape of [a] research project of systematizing and scaling up searching for useful new tools in large databases and DNA sequences.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of search

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prosers

prospect

prospected

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Style

“Prospect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prospect. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of prospect

noun

verb

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