6 synonyms and better words for “indicate,” each with its precise meaning and an example so you pick the one that actually fits, not just the nearest match.
To imply or suggest something beyond the literal meaning.
“The cracked mirror on the wall connoted years of neglect and quiet despair.”
Best for: Ideal in literary analysis or when discussing layered meaning in text or imagery.
To serve as a sign or omen of something.
“The stillness of the forest betokened a storm that had not yet arrived.”
Best for: Works beautifully in literary or dramatic writing; carries a slightly ominous weight.
To reveal or demonstrate a quality or feeling clearly.
“Her steady hands evinced a calm that her voice could not manage.”
Best for: Strong in formal essays or polished prose when showing rather than telling.
To be evidence of or point toward something.
“The worn spine of the book bespoke a reader who had returned to it many times.”
Best for: Formal and literary; suits descriptive passages and character studies.
To foreshadow or serve as a sign of what is to come.
“The nervous laughter around the table augured badly for the negotiation ahead.”
Best for: Best used when the implication is predictive or prophetic in tone.
To give a faint outline or shadow of something; to foreshadow dimly.
“His early sketches adumbrated a vision that would take decades to fully realize.”
Best for: Rare and academic; reserve for scholarly writing or deliberately ornate prose.
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