1
as in destinies
a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand
the condemned murderer seemed indifferent to his circumstance
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in things
something that happens
due to unexpected circumstances, the test will be postponed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in luck
the uncertain course of events
I was a victim of circumstance, for nothing that I could have done would have made a difference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circumstances
There was no immediately available information on the suspect or a motive in the shooting and detectives said that the circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation.
—
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Given those circumstances, what is, realistically, the best-case scenario for the Warriors once the play-in begins?
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Most often, your stylist will be happy to follow up with another appointment to tweak the hairstyle, often at a free or discounted rate in acceptable circumstances.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Under special circumstances, that time can be extended.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
The circumstances, this time around, were rather different.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Two people died last week in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill has written to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office asking that the circumstances of the closure be investigated.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
One of NDiaye’s great strengths is her ability to establish an initial set of circumstances with such authority that the reader is almost powerless to question them.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Given those circumstances, what is, realistically, the best-case scenario for the Warriors once the play-in begins?
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Most often, your stylist will be happy to follow up with another appointment to tweak the hairstyle, often at a free or discounted rate in acceptable circumstances.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Under special circumstances, that time can be extended.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
The circumstances, this time around, were rather different.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
Two people died last week in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill has written to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office asking that the circumstances of the closure be investigated.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
One of NDiaye’s great strengths is her ability to establish an initial set of circumstances with such authority that the reader is almost powerless to question them.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumstances
Noun
-
But Calle, like any writer, sketches her characters and frames their destinies.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Paris Club, an informal forum of representatives from creditor countries largely in the Global North, has steered the destinies of nations in financial peril, restructuring over half a trillion dollars in sovereign debt since its first meeting in 1956.—
Sven van Mourik,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And once on the other side of those things, Christy Martin began living a different kind of double life.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In recent months, Enrique Torres, an undergraduate student at the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, has submitted about two dozen applications for an internship, with no luck.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
With better injury luck and tweaks on defense, a return to form next season is a good bet.—
Greg Cote
April 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mantello has chosen to have different actors play the young Biff (Joaquin Consuelos) and the young Happy (Jake Termine), sharpening the contrast between their potential and their fates.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hart will, however, address the pair of 20-point comebacks the Knicks pulled off en route to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter-century, a sequence of bizarre events many called a fluke.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
According to Fox 11, LA28 currently states that 30% of its remaining tickets are under $200, but many potential ticket buyers have reported that larger events—including the opening and closing ceremonies — only have premium seats available, which often cost upwards of $5,000.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Oilers scored on all three power-play chances in the best performance for that unit since Leon Draisaitl went down with a lower-body injury on March 15 after scoring with the man advantage early in that game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, only about four percent of them begin with gasoline igniting, so the chances of starting a fire at the gas station are extremely slim.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In one of the incidents, the suspects displayed a black handgun, police said.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Months after federal immigration agents shot and killed two people and wounded a third in separate incidents during the ICE surge in Minneapolis, the status of the federal investigations into the three shootings remains an open question.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Boating accidents are common in India, where many vessels are overcrowded and have inadequate safety equipment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Knowles keeps the atmosphere leaden when the story surfaces in the present, in which Willy is 63, fraying with disappointment and banged up from several car crashes out on his long runs — events that his family is starting to fear aren’t accidents.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circumstances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumstances. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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