The Art Of Foreboding: Predicting Negative Outcomes

Predicting something bad can be referred to as prophesying, forecasting, foretelling, prognosticating, or simply predicting. A person who predicts unfortunate events, whether rightly or wrongly, is often called a doomsayer. If their predictions are correct but no one believes them, they can be referred to as a Cassandra, derived from the Trojan princess who was cursed by the gods to know the future but never be believed. Other expressions for a person who makes incorrect predictions include cloudy crystal ball, false prophet, phoney, or failed seer.

A 'doomsayer' or 'harbinger of doom' predicts negative events

A doomsayer or harbinger of doom predicts negative events. A doomsayer is someone who predicts negative events, whether they are right or wrong. The word "doom" implies that these predictions are often pessimistic in nature. The term "harbinger", on the other hand, refers to a person or thing that signals an impending occurrence, especially something undesirable. It is often used in the context of foretelling doom and gloom.

A person who is specifically predicting doom and gloom may be referred to as a "Cassandra", derived from Greek mythology. In the original myth, Cassandra was cursed with the gift of foresight but doomed so that no one would believe her prophecies. Today, the term is used more generally for someone whose predictions may be correct but are unpopular and often ignored.

Other terms that can be used to describe someone who predicts negative events include "soothsayer", which suggests a magical or mystical ability to foretell the future, and "prognosticator", which simply refers to the act of predicting without implying whether the prediction comes true. A more informal term is "jinx", which suggests that the person's comments about something good happening may cause it to be ruined.

There are also terms to describe someone who makes incorrect predictions, such as "false prophet" or "failed seer", indicating someone who makes false predictions or is not believed. A more light-hearted expression is "cloudy crystal ball", implying that the person's ability to see the future is obscured or unclear.

A 'Cassandra' is someone who makes correct predictions that no one believes

The word "harbinger" is often used to describe a person or thing that shows that something is going to happen soon, especially something unpleasant. However, it does not necessarily imply that the prediction will come true. A "doomsayer", on the other hand, is someone who regularly predicts unfortunate events, whether rightly or wrongly.

In the context of mythology, a "Cassandra" is a person who makes correct predictions that no one believes. The term originates from the myth of Cassandra, a Trojan princess who was cursed by the gods to know the future but never be believed. Thus, a key characteristic of a "Cassandra" is not just the accuracy of their prophecies but also the fact that they are ignored or unpopular due to their predictions.

Another term that is similar in meaning to "Cassandra" is "prophecy", which connotes mystic knowledge of the future, often associated with divine threats or promises. A person who makes such prophecies is known as a prophet or seer. However, if their predictions are incorrect, they may be referred to as a "failed prophet" or "false prophet".

It is worth noting that there are also more casual terms to describe someone who makes predictions, whether correct or incorrect. For instance, an ordinary person who makes predictions may be called a "guesser", while someone with a "cloudy crystal ball" refers to an individual whose predictions are consistently wrong.

A 'soothsayer' predicts the future, but can be good or bad

A soothsayer is someone who claims to be able to predict the future, often by magical, intuitive, or rational means. Soothsayers have been consulted throughout history, even by governments, and some continue to have successful businesses telling fortunes and giving advice.

The word "soothsayer" comes from the Old English word for "truth" combined with "say", meaning "an act of speaking the truth". While soothsayers are often associated with positive predictions, they can also foretell negative events, making them doomsayers. In this way, soothsayers can be likened to harbingers, or those who show that something, especially something bad, is going to happen soon.

In popular culture, soothsayers are often depicted as prophets or fortune tellers, and their predictions are often ambiguous or open to interpretation. For example, the prophecies of Nostradamus, a famous 16th-century soothsayer, are said to have foretold the year of Queen Elizabeth II's death.

It's important to note that the accuracy of soothsayers' predictions is often disputed, and confirmation bias can play a significant role in how their prophecies are interpreted. Nonetheless, in an age of constant doom and gloom in the news, many people continue to turn to soothsayers and futurologists for predictions about the future, whether good or bad.

A 'false prophet' or 'phoney' makes false predictions

In religion, a false prophet is someone who falsely claims to have a divine connection and makes false predictions based on this supposed connection. They may also be referred to as a pseudoprophet. Often, someone who is considered a "true prophet" by some people is simultaneously considered a "false prophet" by others, even within the same religion.

In a wider sense, a false prophet is someone who claims a special connection to a deity and sets themselves up as a source of spirituality, an authority, preacher, or teacher. The term can also be used outside of religion to describe someone who promotes a theory that the speaker thinks is false. For example, Jesus is rejected in every branch of Judaism as a failed Jewish Messiah claimant and a false prophet.

The Bible contains several warnings about false prophets, such as in Deuteronomy 13:1-5:

> "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst."

False prophets are often associated with predictions of doom and disaster, such as nuclear war, global warming, or an asteroid impact. These prophets may be referred to as doomsayers or Cassandras (from mythology). A key characteristic of a Cassandra is that their prophecies are ignored or disbelieved, even if they turn out to be correct.

Synonyms for the word "predict" include forecast, foretell, prognosticate, and prophesy. While all these words mean "to tell beforehand," predict commonly implies inference from facts or accepted laws of nature.

A 'guesser' is an ordinary person who makes incorrect predictions

There are several terms for people who predict unfortunate events, whether correctly or incorrectly. A "guesser" is a term used to describe an ordinary person who makes incorrect predictions. It is not a specific term and is quite broad in its usage.

A person who predicts unfortunate events, especially something bad, is called a harbinger or a harbinger of doom. The term doomsayer is also used to describe such a person, and while they can be wrong, their predictions are generally negative.

Another term for a person who predicts bad things is a jinx. This term is often used when someone comments on how well things are going, and their comment is followed by a negative turn of events.

In mythology, a Cassandra is someone who makes correct predictions, but no one believes them. This term is used more generally today for people who are unpopular for their predictions, whether they are believed or not.

Other terms for people who predict events include soothsayer, prognosticator, fortune teller, and weather forecaster.

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