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Meaning & use

telepathically

adverb·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌtel.ɪˈpæθ.ɪ.kli/
US/ˌtel.əˈpæθ.ɪ.kli/

Meanings

  1. adverbnot comparable

    In a way that passes thoughts or feelings from one mind to another without speaking, writing or any physical signal.

    Grammar: Modifies a verb: they communicated telepathically.

    Patterns

    • communicate telepathically
    • speak telepathically to someone

    In the film, the two aliens talk to each other telepathically.

    The twins claim they can sense each other's moods telepathically.

    She seemed to be telepathically aware of every worry I had.

  2. adverbnot comparablehumorousinformal

    In a playful, exaggerated way, used when someone seems to know what another person is thinking without being told.

    Grammar: Used humorously after verbs like know or understand.

    Patterns

    • know something telepathically

    My dog seems to know telepathically when I am about to open the biscuit tin.

    You can't expect me to guess telepathically what you wanted for dinner.

Common combinations

communicate telepathically
The characters communicate telepathically across great distances.
send a message telepathically
He tried to send her a message telepathically across the crowded room.
read minds telepathically
The villain can telepathically read the minds of his captives.
connected telepathically
The old friends felt almost telepathically connected.

Synonyms and how they differ

psychically
Psychically covers any supposed mind powers, including seeing the future, while telepathically is specifically about thoughts passing between minds.
mentally
Mentally is an ordinary word meaning in the mind and does not suggest any supernatural transfer of thought.
intuitively
Intuitively means by instinct and needs no magical link between two people, unlike telepathically.

Opposites

verbally

Word family

telepathy noun
the supposed passing of thoughts between minds
telepathic adjective
able to use or involving telepathy
telepath noun
a person with telepathic powers

Commonly confused: telepathically or empathetically?

telepathically vs empathetically

Empathetically means in a way that shows understanding of someone's feelings, with no suggestion of reading their mind.

Practice

In the story, the dragon and its rider ___ without ever saying a word aloud.

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