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 one god who periodically turns up, Zendaya’s Athena – supposedly Ulysses’ divine protector against the wrath of Zeus and Poseidon and all the rest – has surprisingly little to do in this version. Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 July 2026 The combined blockbuster prowess of the film’s braintrust could rival the prestige of the divine artifact itself. Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Noun
Often at odds with orthodoxy, this branch of Islam looks at the relationship between the divine and the self through the lens of surrender, to the point where one’s own identity dissolves. Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026 In Muslim belief, whoever holds a fragment is holding something that connects the earthly world with the divine. Iqbal Akhtar, The Conversation, 25 May 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
  • There was something wonderful about the energy of the space—sprinkled with students diligently studying for final exams.
    Dana Kravis, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • The airline’s business class is well worth the splurge, thanks to the delicious food and beverage offerings, comfortable seats, innovative programs, and wonderful service on board.
    Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
Adjective
  • The actress, 29, wore a heavenly floor-length white gown sourced from French fashion house Matières Fécales to the red carpet at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Tuesday, July 14.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
  • By the end of the movie, even something as natural as daylight has become suffused with a heavenly glow, and the beads of sweat on a dying body sparkle with a beauty that Emily had never been able to find anywhere else in her tragedy of a life.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • At the church near the cemetery’s entrance there’s a funeral, and the chants of the priests fill the square.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Three of my aunts were nuns, many of my cousins became priests, and my parents, siblings and I were all educated by the Jesuits.
    Geri McGinn Kerger, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Relief from heat is anticipated by Wednesday and Thursday, when the high temperature is forecast to inch down into the mid-80s.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • As far as the production approach to Sunday, Telemundo anticipates having its biggest canvas yet, with correspondents delivering reports and setting the scene from Spain and Argentina.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • The roofline leaves enough headroom for actual adults, the cargo area is genuinely useful, and visibility remains excellent.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
  • City Colleges of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University and National Louis University, among others, have built their reputations on the premise that everyone deserves access to an excellent education.
    Andrea Sáenz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • Alongside Laura Dern as paleobotanist Ellie Sattler and Jeff Goldblum as mathematician Ian Malcolm, Neill completed the holy trinity of protagonists in Steven Spielberg’s enduring blockbuster dinosaur adventure.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026
  • The ingredients are listed as organic coconut water, organic jasmine tea, organic raw honey, organic holy basil, organic anise hyssop, organic green cardamom, organic white grape juice and organic coconut milk.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • On June 27, 2026, at Trinity Pride Fest in Fort Worth, Texas, street preachers Richard Penkoski and David Grisham were subjected to multiple violations of their First Amendment rights while attempting to preach on public property.
    Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Instead, there are countless influencers, preachers, and personalities who have created niche movements with their own theologies and political alignments.
    Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • Not many will have foreseen Norway’s commanding victory over Brazil, but the way Solbakken managed that game is testament to both his tactical intelligence and their squad depth.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
  • His one talent was his ability to foresee that the vilification of ambitious and successful people might lead to the political mass resentment and hatred for such individuals.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 23 Jul. 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!

More from Merriam-Webster