divine 1 of 3

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
That's when inspiration came by the way of divine intervention, according to the star. Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025 The three-day-long Durga Puja festival recognizes the Hindu holiday, celebrating the spirit of the Hindu goddess Durga, who symbolizes divine energy and protective power. Gabrielle Gillette, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
But that subgenre is far from the only religiously tinged music — created by everyone from devout evangelicals to open agnostics, from country artists to rappers — climbing the charts today; a number of pop songs are likewise courting the divine. Aja Romano, Vox, 8 July 2025 The gestures of Darrell Grand Moultrie’s choreography thread together the divine, in the narration of those scenes about Marimba’s origins, with the bumping and grinding of the club, which touches the latter with the air of the holy. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Verb
However, there's a connection because the performer feels it was divined by a power greater than him. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 In times of crisis or uncertainty, for example, communities used ceremonial drums to communicate with the spirit world and divine the future. Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for divine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divine
Adjective
  • Watching his wonderful kids, Amy, Jamie and Shauna, grow up and become deeply connected to the arts and making an impact in this world has been an immense privilege.
    Michelle Satter, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Accessible by car or Amtrak’s Northeast Regional line, which offers thrice-daily service, Culpeper is a wonderful destination for a leisurely and enriching getaway.
    Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Though egg salad is simple on principle, there are still decidedly good ones, bad ones, and heavenly ones.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
  • When it was released back in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima struck a chord with players with its razor-sharp samurai gameplay and heavenly aesthetics.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When Richardson left the church, the priest alerted law enforcement.
    City News Service, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
  • After reviewing those court records, anyone with an ounce of humanity would come away furious at the criminal cover-up perpetrated against innocent young children by priests.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The owners anticipate the new Muskego location will open at the beginning of 2026, though an official date has not been set.
    Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Residents can anticipate wind gusts of up to 50 mph.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Iberostar Waves Quetzal Playa del Carmen, Mexico A beachfront all-inclusive Playa del Carmen resort that welcomes families with excellent children’s programming, Iberostar Waves Quetzal caters to kids and teens ages four to 17 with everything from cooking classes to science experiments.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The dual point of view is perfect, the banter and pacing are excellent and the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
    Audrey Goldberg Ruoff, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In 2016, at least $4,000 in cash donations were stolen from the ICM after the mosque's celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
    Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Wahlberg plays a holy fool in Boogie Nights, our naïve but well-endowed guide through the heyday of theatrical pornography and its decline into something cheaper and tawdrier courtesy of the triumph of VHS.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Carolyn Smith, the late preacher’s daughter, said her father — like Pendleton a Knoxville College graduate — was instrumental in recruiting Pendleton and other Black educators to teach in San Diego.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Most famously, the late preacher and radio host Harold Camping predicted doomsday again and again.
    C. A. Bridges, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Young adults with disabilities have much to offer that could not have been foreseen in advance.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
  • As for the rest of our readers’ predictions, 20% foresaw the grand prize going to freestyler Chris Turner, while 14% threw their support behind Jourdan Blue‘s velvety voice and even velvetier hair.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on divine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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