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
But Abigail acted swiftly, expressing the boundless affection of Love, God, coupled with the strength of divine Principle, another name for God. The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026 James, a sensitive diviner of both anxieties, chronicles how the inhospitality of the social world sends gay men into hiding. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
By suppressing this continuity between the natural and the supernatural realms, Nolan omits much of what makes the Homeric age so different, including the ambience of the divine and the distinctive moral realm that goes with it. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 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
Verb
Habermas shares Horkheimer and Adorno’s doubts about such a scheme, which puts too much faith in individuals’ ability to divine truth on their own. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for divine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divine
Adjective
  • The coast on this part of Tuscany is a little wild, but wonderful for swimming, and guests have access to the boat for excursions to nearby islands and morning swims off secret coves.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Gloria lived a full, wonderful life filled with friends and great conversations and worthy causes.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Where the Europeans see a battle to be won, and even the other Sherpa see a terrifying sacred force, Tenzing sees a heavenly mother — smiling down on him since childhood, bearing witness to his heartbreaks in adulthood, calling him now to come home.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Luzzi’s heavenly version is layered with almond, fig, honey and bavaroise.
    Ann Lee, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • After shooting Lino in the foot, the stranger reveals himself as Father Joe (Kiefer Sutherland), an actual priest who takes on Manhattan’s drug dealers wearing his work clothes.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Helping people was the reason Judge had become a priest many years earlier.
    René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Enciso can be the bustling out-ball, the tenacious, front-footed defender and provide the moments of individual brilliance to get Ipswich out of the relegation trouble many anticipate.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Rather, the neural signals associated with threat detection and pain were most acute when people were merely anticipating the test.
    Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Lampard felt his players deserved a point after creating several excellent chances.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Picturesque views of the surrounding Casco Bay are abundant, and its consistently excellent food scene has made the city a culinary hot spot for the ages.
    Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 7 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Once upon a time, Herzog was the crazy visionary, determined at all costs to realize his aesthetic ambitions to feel more, to see deeper, to explore the madness of the world, a bit of a holy fool himself.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Most Indians were part of groups visiting the Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash in Tibet, holy pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
    Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Soon, the vast stadium was packed — not with rugby fans or concertgoers, but with thousands who came to pray with an African preacher.
    Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The hunting buddies thank God and good friends that McCoy, a Baptist preacher, survived the attack at all.
    Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Despite the hype, investors don't foresee a big move — and some think the news could prompt investors to offload shares.
    Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Bailey’s return had been a surprise and was not foreseen by Emery weeks earlier.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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