Synonyms of doom

doom 1 of 2

noun

ˈdüm 

1

as in ruling

a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard

the judge solemnly pronounced his doom before a hushed courtroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruling
• sentence
• verdict
• judgment
• finding
• decision
• opinion
• holding
• declaration
• injunction
• punishment
• decree
• pronouncement
• inquest
• deliverance
• determination
• order
• conclusion
• penalty
• resolution
• award
• edict
• authority
• dictum
• arbitrament
• discipline

2

as in destiny

a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand

it was her doom to be haunted by the memory of that terrible day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destiny
• fate
• fortune
• chance
• circumstance
• portion
• luck
• kismet
• hazard
• accident
• lot
• effect
• predestination
• outcome
• result
• casualty
• development
• happenchance
• happenstance
• issue
• aftermath
• resultant
• consequence
• sequel
• hap
• upshot
• fruit
• sequence
• conclusion
• outgrowth
• aftereffect

3

as in demise

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities

met his doom at the hands of a rampaging rhinoceros

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demise
• death
• fate
• passing
• dissolution
• grave
• end
• expiration
• decease
• exit
• sleep
• curtains
• passage
• destruction
• suicide
• expiry
• quietus
• great divide
• assassination
• fatality
• ending
• martyrdom
• annihilation
• casualty
• ruin
• execution
• extermination
• self-destruction
• slaughter
• killing
• massacre
• self-slaughter
• self-murder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• birth
• life
• existence
• rise
• nativity
• creation
• genesis
• origination

doom

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to destine

to determine the fate of in advance

the actor felt that he was doomed to be forever remembered for that one terrible performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destine
• fate
• ordain
• foredoom
• predict
• predetermine
• predestine
• preordain
• foreordain
• condemn
• presage
• sentence
• prophesy
• foretell
• forecast
• prognosticate
• augur
• portend
• forebode
• divine
• foresee
• bode
• prejudge
• anticipate
• predestinate
• preconceive
• foreknow

2

as in to sentence

to impose a judicial punishment on

doomed the murderer to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sentence
• condemn
• punish
• damn
• discipline
• decree
• penalize
• judge
• correct
• censure
• rule
• adjudge
• find
• chastise
• resolve
• chasten
• opine
• determine
• decide
• castigate
• conclude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pardon
• reprieve

Synonym Chooser

How is the word doom distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of doom are destiny, fate, lot, and portion. While all these words mean "a predetermined state or end," doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

When is destiny a more appropriate choice than doom?

The words destiny and doom can be used in similar contexts, but destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end.

the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world

When would fate be a good substitute for doom?

While in some cases nearly identical to doom, fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.

the fate of the submarine is unknown

How are the words lot and portion related as synonyms of doom?

Both lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance.

it was her lot to die childless

In what contexts can portion take the place of doom?

Although the words portion and doom have much in common, portion implies the apportioning of good and evil.

remorse was his daily portion

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of doom

Noun

The pieces look back to Minimalism, whose austere surfaces and heavy industrial materials menace viewers with the possibility of death and doom. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

If your wind-down is currently a doom-scroll after the kids finally go down, that isn’t helping. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Verb

A couple of daggers to the heart doomed both the Ravens and the Bills last winter. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

As if being ripped nationwide for his travel plans wasn’t painful enough, McVay will also be skewered for a baffling decision on a third-quarter play that could have rescued the Rams but instead doomed them. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026