destiny

noun

des·​ti·​ny ˈde-stə-nē 

plural destinies

1

: something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune

wants to control his own destiny

2

: a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency

felt that destiny would determine their future

Synonyms

• circumstance
• doom
• fate
• fortune
• kismet
• lot
• portion

Choose the Right Synonym for destiny

fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end.

fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.

the fate of the submarine is unknown

destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end.

the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world

lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance

it was her lot to die childless

, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil.

remorse was his daily portion

doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

Examples of destiny in a Sentence

They believed it was their destiny to be together.

motivated by a sense of destiny

Recent Examples on the Web

Marilyn attributes their purchase of the land to their destiny. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024

This song is about pushing through old mistakes and finding your destiny ... —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024

Her future fraught with whispers of her father’s political connection to Argentina’s brutal dictatorship, she’s tasked with circumventing harsh truths to remain faithful to her destiny in the narrative that follows her through her formative years. —Holly Jones, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024

Early adversity does not dictate your baby’s destiny. —Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu Reprints, STAT, 18 Mar. 2024

Putin’s presentation of himself as an omnipotent savior—the only one who can steer Russia’s destiny—thus presents a long-term risk for the regime. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024

For Kim Gordon, returning to Los Angeles was once her least likely destiny. —Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Despite initially envisioning himself as a producer, his destiny as an artist unfolded gradually. —Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024

And in more ways than one, the turntable stage itself felt like an enactment of destiny. Projections, lots of them, have become another requisite of the Met modernization strategy. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English destinee, from Anglo-French, from feminine of destiné, past participle of destiner — see destine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destiny

• manifest destiny

Kids Definition

destiny

noun

des·​ti·​ny ˈdes-tə-nē 

plural destinies

1

: something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune

2

: the course of events held to be arranged by a superhuman power