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Cassandra

noun
Cas·​san·​dra | \ kə-ˈsan-drə How to pronounce Cassandra (audio) , -ˈsän- How to pronounce Cassandra (audio) \

Definition of Cassandra

1 : a daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed
2 : one that predicts misfortune or disaster
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about Cassandra

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Synonyms & Antonyms for Cassandra

Synonyms

Chicken Little, doomsayer, doomsdayer, doomster

Antonyms

optimist, Pollyanna

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Did You Know?

The story of Cassandra comes from Greek mythology and is both tragic and ironic, as such myths tend to be. Cassandra was the daughter of Priam, the king of Troy. She caught the eye of the god Apollo, who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. He was amazed and displeased when she refused his romantic advances, and he became vengeful. He cursed Cassandra with a gift of prophecy with an especially cruel twist: he guaranteed that while she would always be right, no one would ever believe her predictions. Cassandra foretold the fall of Troy and other disastrous happenings, though she was ignored. Now, the label Cassandra is typically reserved for those who claim to see impending doom.

Examples of Cassandra in a Sentence

more than one Cassandra on Wall Street had warned that the market was overdue for a major correction

First Known Use of Cassandra

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for Cassandra

Latin, from Greek Kassandra

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