Definition

Adjective: 1. Prophetic or foretelling: Serving to reveal or disclose something, often of a profound, fateful, or divine nature. It can describe something that acts as a prophecy or omen. 2. Clearly revealing or indicative: (Usually followed by the preposition 'of') Clearly pointing out, showing, or making something evident. It describes actions, evidence, or statements that clearly reveal a particular quality, fact, or state.

Usage Examples

• Prophetic sense:
  • The ancient text contained revelatory visions of the future.
  • Her dream was strangely revelatory, seeming to predict the coming crisis.
• Indicative sense (followed by 'of'):
  • His nervous silence was revelatory of his guilt.
  • The document is revelatory of the company's true financial state.

Advanced Usage

• "revelatory of": This is the standard construction when the adjective means "indicative of" or "serving to reveal." The preposition 'of' introduces what is being revealed.
  • The interview was deeply revelatory of the artist's creative process.
• Used to describe a moment of sudden, profound understanding or disclosure.
  • The biography provided a revelatory insight into the leader's early life.

Variants and Related Words

• Revelation (noun): A surprising and previously unknown fact that is made known; the divine or supernatural disclosure of knowledge.
  • The biography contained several shocking revelations.
• Reveal (verb): To make previously unknown or secret information known.
  • The investigation will reveal the truth.

Synonyms

• Prophetic: Foretelling future events.
• Indicative: Serving as a sign or suggestion of something.
• Disclosure: The action of making new or secret information known.
• Illuminating: Helping to clarify or explain.

Antonyms

• Concealing: Keeping something secret or hidden.
• Obscure: Not clearly expressed or easily understood; keeping from being seen.
• Unrevealing: Not providing any interesting or significant information.

Related Phrases and Constructions

• In a revelatory manner (adverbial phrase): Done in a way that reveals something clearly.
  • She spoke in a revelatory manner about the challenges she faced.
• A revelatory experience: An experience that leads to a significant new understanding.
  • Traveling alone was a revelatory experience for him.

Adjective

1. prophetic of devastation or ultimate doom
2. (usually followed by `of') pointing out or revealing clearly
   • actions indicative of fear