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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
The murder thrusts Zhan-Zhou into the spotlight and the court of public opinion, forcing her towards a fate intertwined with that of her own country. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 June 2025 Are these Guardians headed for a similar fate in late July? Zack Meisel, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Verb
Perhaps this show, too, is a dream—one from which we are fated to wake sooner, rather than later. ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025 While the numbers are striking, there’s a growing body of evidence showing that many of these cases may not be genetically fated, but rather could be delayed or prevented altogether by addressing health factors generally within our control. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fate
Noun
  • There was a false start or two, but the big, bad beast of a bus has finally completed its destiny.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 June 2025
  • His message was clear — Nvidia is the company that can help Europe build its artificial intelligence infrastructure so the region can take control of its own destiny with the transformative technology.
    Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • His mother, who felt that the men might escape from Guatemala’s notoriously dysfunctional prison system, considered capital punishment the safest outcome.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
  • Ultimately, the most important part of Friday’s game, beyond the outcome, is the continued development of Horton.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 14 June 2025
Noun
  • So while Oyun-Erdene’s demise was likely rooted in factional bickering rather than a nefarious power grab, the debacle contains a stark warning that Mongolia’s political class needs to start pulling in the same direction for cherished freedoms to be secured.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 13 June 2025
  • So basically, their awful demise is now a sense of joy for the people that are down there digging up the bones.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • They were led nonetheless by an exceptional cadre of junior officers, thirty of whom would become generals, including eighteen destined to be full generals, the army's highest rank.
    / CBS News, CBS News, 13 June 2025
  • Everything’s Going to Be Great suggests that all of this is destined to become fodder, someday, for Les’ brilliant creative career.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • In May, Amy popped up in the feeds of over 25 million TikTok users with a video that documented the dramatic results of her breast reduction.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 17 June 2025
  • With results showing that only just over half of immigrants intend to stay in Germany permanently, the report signals trouble for Europe’s largest economy which is already struggling with historic labor shortages.
    Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.
    DEVI SHASTRI, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • This was one of the theories about Wilkins’s death.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • However, military failures and poor decisions by both Nicholas and Alexandra, who was overseeing domestic affairs while her husband led the war effort, ultimately doomed the Romanov dynasty.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025
  • But by then, consoles were already taking over gaming, and the Backyard series failed to keep up, doomed in part by the dot-com bubble bursting.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • After cooling, the resultant solid was ground into powder to produce the final pigment.
    Jay Kakade June 14, New Atlas, 14 June 2025
  • Meanwhile caretakers are concerned with something that can be even more challenging to address: the psychological trauma resultant from years of abuse in captivity.
    Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fate. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

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