Synonyms of fate

fate 1 of 2

noun

ˈfāt 

1

as in destiny

a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand

the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

2

as in outcome

a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

the fate of the presidential election hinged on a few thousand votes in a single state

Synonyms & Similar Words

• outcome
• result
• resultant
• consequence
• product
• aftermath
• effect
• matter of course
• upshot
• sequel
• development
• issue
• fruit
• sequence
• implication
• child
• precipitate
• corollary
• aftereffect
• conclusion
• backwash
• outgrowth
• ramification
• denouement
• repercussion
• fallout
• side effect
• echo
• by-product
• aftershock
• afterglow
• afterclap
• blowback
• offshoot
• ripple
• spin-off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cause
• reason
• consideration
• factor
• occasion
• basis
• ground
• base
• causation
• antecedent
• foundation
• mother
• origin
• determinant
• source
• stimulus
• inspiration
• incentive
• spring
• groundwork
• root
• impetus
• instigation

3

as in demise

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities

he met his fate in a tragic highway accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

fate

2 of 2

verb

ˈfāt 

as in to destine

to determine the fate of in advance

the warning that the lack of an advanced education will fate a person to a lifetime of below-average earnings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Recent Examples of fate

Noun

The nation’s fate was inextricably tied to Europe’s. —Thomas Robertson, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026

Earlier efforts met similar fates. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Feb. 2026

Verb

There is a healthy amount of respect between the Rams and Seahawks, and — at least from the Rams in the locker room Sunday night — a feeling that this matchup was fated. —Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026

The weirdest thing of all in economics, says Brandeis University Economics Professor Benjamin Shiller, is that weirdness is closely tied to fate in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026