fate 1 of 2

Definition of fatenext
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fate

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fate distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of fate are destiny, doom, lot, and portion. While all these words mean "a predetermined state or end," fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.

the fate of the submarine is unknown

When is it sensible to use destiny instead of fate?

The words destiny and fate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Where would doom be a reasonable alternative to fate?

The synonyms doom and fate are sometimes interchangeable, but doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

How do lot and portion relate to one another, in the sense of fate?

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 fate?

While in some cases nearly identical to fate, portion implies the apportioning of good and evil.

remorse was his daily portion

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 fate
Noun
After two weeks of damning government evidence at trial, a former South Florida nursing school operator pleaded guilty on Monday to running a diploma mill for thousands of nurses rather than present a defense and let a jury decide her fate in Fort Lauderdale federal court. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 The United States and Iran are set to begin a week of high-stakes diplomacy Monday after announcing a framework deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary agreement that has already pushed oil prices lower but leaves the fate of Iran’s nuclear program to future negotiations. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Verb
According to its logline, the eighth and final season will be rooted in the difficult choices and fate each cast member will have to face, some life or death, but will ultimately reflect legacy, conflict, joy, and pain. Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Bannister presents five random strangers on a train, one of whom is fated to die in the next five minutes. Diya Chacko, Oc Register, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fate
Noun
  • Now, the latest Knicks legend in the Brunson family is helping chart a new destiny for the team.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 15 June 2026
  • Indeed, the belief that America’s destiny is larger than a troubled present assists the evasion.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Nonetheless, Ossoff will have to appeal to independents, who will decide the outcome, according to Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor and expert on Southern politics.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • Researchers have documented positive mental health outcomes associated with participating in BDSM play, including decreasing levels of cortisol, often called our stress hormone.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Fans of Mays’ recall that his character on the FX gritty urban drama Snowfall, Kevin Hamilton, also suffered an accidental demise.
    Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 15 June 2026
  • Griffin flew sixteen people to Houston on a chartered jet to interview hundreds of Enron’s employees during that company’s demise.
    Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Federal customs officials at Washington Dulles Airport seized 139 pounds of Ethiopian khat, a plant chewed for its amphetamine-like effect, that was destined for Sacramento.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
  • In that sense, like the recordings at the center of her film, McKendrick’s third feature feels destined to become a keepsake.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • In Geneva, Switzerland’s second-largest city and a hub of United Nations institutions and humanitarian groups, early results showed about two-thirds of voters in the region opposed the measure.
    Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • Sunday’s result will only increase that confidence.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • It was first adopted in 2017 with a goal of reaching zero traffic deaths by 2027.
    Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • In an effort to conceal the causes of death, Sit impersonated the owners and had the dogs cremated, according to prosecutors.
    Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • On the floor, just four Republican no votes could doom it.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
  • That does not mean LinkedIn’s marketplace is doomed.
    Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Studies on footing ramped up in intensity after the 2004 Athens Olympics, a Games that was quickly defined by concerns around the intensity of the heat and the resultant firmness of the going at the grassed Markopoulo Arena.
    Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • This is because, as the authors of the study note, people holding grudges tend to feel a sense of righteousness surrounding their hurt, as well as with their experience of the resultant grudge itself.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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