Definition of divinenext
1
2
as in heavenly
of, relating to, or being God for these divine gifts let us be truly thankful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divine

2 of 3

noun

divine

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of divine are anticipate, foreknow, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

When could anticipate be used to replace divine?

Although the words anticipate and divine have much in common, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

When might foreknow be a better fit than divine?

The synonyms foreknow and divine are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

When can foresee be used instead of divine?

While the synonyms foresee and divine are close in meaning, foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of divine
Adjective
The song soundtracks Alice’s moment of divine rebellion against Marshall, a man who has abused and used her for far too long. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 God provides His children with divine direction from the get-go. Judith Hardy Olson, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
His prophetic abilities and insight into the divine are partly from having experienced both life as a woman and life as a man. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026 Just to put a little bit of the divine in it. Sari Hitchins, Parents, 19 June 2026
Verb
According to Esteve Umbert, one of the architects, Guadì also left geometric clues to help with construction, such as a hyperbolic paraboloid used to divine the shape of a church spire. Seth Doane, CBS News, 7 June 2026 Its Orbs are meant to divine the real from the fake. Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for divine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divine
Adjective
  • Such a contrast to the wonderful Bootham Crescent, York’s home until 2020 and within stumbling distance of not only the famous Minster but all the city’s many other attractions.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Stepping into the shoes of Steve McQueen is no easy feat, but Brosnan does so with style as Thomas Crown, a billionaire art thief who falls for the insurance investigator chasing him, played by the wonderful Rene Russo.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Hathaway topped off her heavenly look with an effortlessly wavy up-do and an ethereal blush-nude makeup look.
    Morgan Evans, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • To map out these heavenly realms takes a certain amount of ego and pollyannaism otherwise absent from Reilly’s worldview.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Even a local Catholic priest launched a holy war against the school over its new athletic facility.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
  • But then his family temple needed a priest, and his life onstage came to an end.
    Pico Iyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This problem is anticipated to worsen as more AI providers adopt watermarking, creating a fertile environment for scams and deception, thus users are urged to exercise extreme caution.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Gibbs joked that some Cup drivers would be out of the series without the high-tech device that makes blocking easier by anticipating an opponent’s move.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Simashev is excellent defensively and on retrievals and tilts the ice in his favor.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As far as pop stars who happen to also be thoughtful and excellent songwriters go, Kahan is in the upper ranks.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But Schleien considers official pietism—the theocratic strictures, the holy geographies, and Iron Age notions of vengeance—a threat in its own right, and one that exacerbates various security crises.
    Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As well as being home to Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s top oil exporters.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the book, a man known only as the Shepherd, a one-handed, somewhat insane preacher, starts turning the masses of King’s Landing against the Targaryens — and their dragons.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Burkes were also very religious, with Dawud occasionally serving as a Pentecostal preacher.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Last month, Semafor reported that Amazon’s sustainability chief foresees a multi-year uptick in the company’s carbon footprint.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • To be fair, a number of the calamities should have been foreseen, probably.
    Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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