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
Think medieval meets modern--less clunky Louis XVIth and more comfy armchair, with Kingsdown mattresses that are simply divine. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026 In Puranic and Vaishnava traditions, Lakshmana is believed to be the incarnation of Shesha, lord of the nagas (serpents) and the divine serpent on which the Hindu god Vishnu rests. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
These include her grandfather, a Danish Resistance fighter during World War II, a concentration camp survivor, priest, and author who sought the divine on solitary nature walks. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 The title establishes the spiritual foundation of the franchise, which centers on Lord Shri Krishna and depicts what the studio describes as an expansive spiritual universe built around devotion, dharma and the bond between humanity and the divine. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 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
  • Server was wonderful and attentive and the manager came around to check on things.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2026
  • There’s a wonderful connection between this film and the festival.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Jesus had just been teaching his followers to love even their enemies, pointing toward the impartial love of our heavenly Father.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Codex Gigas, medieval illuminated manuscript known for its full-page illustration of the Devil opposite a full-page illustration of heavenly Jerusalem.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But the priest begins to quietly resist, secretly returning the bodies to their families at great personal risk.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The federal agents departed the hospital shortly after a priest appeared at the scene of the protest, video shows.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • These will include a next generation of landers the agency anticipates needing once humans have started to return to the moon regularly.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But there were delays that set back their timetable for opening, including significantly more repair work than originally anticipated.
    — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Bold from brown butter and balsamic vinegar and bright from lemon, the crunchy topping is an excellent foil to the sweetness of roasted squash.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Their bench even has some guys providing excellent backup options.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • If only Bob the Minion were there to complete the holy trifecta.
    — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • It was forbidden territory because the idea was that – unlike most of the other executive agencies – the DOJ had a kind of holy, nonpolitical status?
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The preacher was Walter White, who led an Oregon City offshoot of the Followers of Christ, an Idaho sect that spurns medical treatment as a show of faith.
    — Noelle Crombie, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Growing up, the brothers spent much of their childhood traveling around the South with their father, a Pentecostal Church preacher, before eventually forming the band in Nashville in 1999, per American Songwriter.
    — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Real programs still produce events nobody could foresee, and that is what reactive capacity is for.
    — Leslie Ellis, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Perhaps foreseeing the end of his own long walk in the woods, Redford sold the Sundance Mountain Resort in 2020 to Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on divine

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!