FOREGOING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'foregoing' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foregoing are antecedent , anterior , former , preceding , previous , and prior . While all these words mean "being before," foregoing applies chiefly to statements. // the foregoing remarks

Q: When would 'antecedent' be a good substitute for 'foregoing'?

While in some cases nearly identical to foregoing , antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation. // conditions antecedent to the revolution

Q: When is 'anterior' a more appropriate choice than 'foregoing'?

The synonyms anterior and foregoing are sometimes interchangeable, but anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order. // the anterior lobe of the brain

Q: When might 'former' be a better fit than 'foregoing'?

The words former and foregoing can be used in similar contexts, but former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter. // the former name of the company

Q: When is it sensible to use 'preceding' instead of 'foregoing'?

The meanings of preceding and foregoing largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place. // the preceding sentence

Q: How are the words 'previous' and 'prior' related as synonyms of 'foregoing'?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance. // a child from a previous marriage // a prior obligation

foregoing 1 of 2

adjective

fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ

Definition of foregoing next

as in previous

going before another in time or order your foregoing statement contradicts your latest one

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in aforementioned

mentioned previously for the foregoing reasons, I believe that we have no choice but to deliver a guilty verdict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

foregoing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of forego

as in preceding

to go or come before in time if the sparse crowds are any indication of the public's interest in the presidential candidate, then his reputation obviously foregoes him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foregoing distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of foregoing are antecedent, anterior, former, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When would antecedent be a good substitute for foregoing?

While in some cases nearly identical to foregoing, antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When is anterior a more appropriate choice than foregoing?

The synonyms anterior and foregoing are sometimes interchangeable, but anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When might former be a better fit than foregoing?

The words former and foregoing can be used in similar contexts, but former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When is it sensible to use preceding instead of foregoing?

The meanings of preceding and foregoing largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How are the words previous and prior related as synonyms of foregoing?

Both previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage

a prior obligation

Examples 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 foregoing

Adjective

That is consistent with a shift observed in March last year among seniors, which authorities theorized could be driven by less severe disease in hospitals or more foregoing hospital care. —

Alexander Tin, CBS News, 4 May 2023 City dwellers are increasingly foregoing car ownership. —

Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2019 The image below shows what is perhaps the key element that helped tie all the foregoing aspects together. —

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 5 July 2022 As seen, in all of the foregoing 20-year periods surveyed, the stock index possessed average annual returns exceeding that of the rate of inflation. —

Dan Cupkovic, Forbes, 16 June 2022 The daily average is also now a significant undercount, with most people testing positive on rapid tests that go unreported or foregoing testing altogether. —

Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, 31 May 2022 To those of you that are seriously immersed in the AI field, none of this foregoing pronouncement is surprising or raises any eyebrows. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 May 2022 That should help doctors and patients feel more comfortable foregoing radiation after thyroid surgery, Leboulleux said. —

Angus Chen, STAT, 10 Mar. 2022 None of the foregoing discussion is intended to imply that collaboration tools are inherently evil or unable to deliver productivity benefits. —

Mark Settle, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foregoing

Adjective

Except maybe for 1992’s South of the Border, West of the Sun, no previous Murakami novel has so clearly dealt with and inhabited the muddle of middle age.

Bailey Trela, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
With seven fill-in starts his previous three seasons, Moore has played just 14 offensive snaps this season, nine coming in last month’s loss to Kansas City in which Williams got ejected for throwing a retaliatory punch.

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024