FATE Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

fate 1 of 2

noun

ˈfāt

Definition of fate

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

Relevance

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demise

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities he met his fate in a tragic highway accident

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 fate of this family is at the heart of the film’s emotional palette. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026 Since the 1979 Revolution, all who have held the role have faced dark fates, from impeachment and political isolation to travel bans and house arrest. — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Verb

But then fate — and my friend, Melissa Etheridge — stepped in. — Robert Greenblatt, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 And the willingness to set your own decision date instead of waiting for the market, a crisis, or fate to set it for you. — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fate

Noun

And with the team dropping Monday night’s home matchup against the Atlanta Dream, 95-84, the Liberty lost any chance to host in the first round, and completely lost the opportunity to control its own destiny.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
Combs was a beacon of inspiration not just for the Black community, but for those who admired the classic American spirit of forging one’s own destiny.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of destiny

Noun

These platforms are colonizing existing speculative spaces—like election results and sporting outcomes—while profiting from areas of asymmetrical knowledge that were previously not possible to monetize.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Additionally, Schumer told Punchbowl News that the outcome of the midterm elections has no bearing on his decision to seek party leadership.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of outcome

Verb

Ella’s father himself was due to leave in the next day or two, destined—even he—for the front.

— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
One big question has always been whether cells in the ectoderm were already destined to become the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

— Mike McRae September 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of destine

Noun

By comparison, strong fluid flows elongated the cells and caused DNA damage, a crucial control detail that explains why past experiments might have yielded misleading results.

— Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The result is something that looks dressy with minimal effort but feels like your favorite pair of yoga pants.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of result

Noun

Quavo recently opened up about how the death of his nephew and Migos groupmate Takeoff impacted his then-fractured relationship with fellow group member Offset.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
When the event is death or violence, forecasting is readily perceived as not only monetizing harm but possibly even incentivizing it.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of death

Verb

In some cases, House Democrats are campaigning on the bill that’s doomed in its current form, presenting a further contrast to the vast majority of Senate Democrats who want nothing to do with it.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
This being England, their love is doomed by the gulf of the social divide.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of doom

Noun

Surprisingly, despite his role in the Fast & Furious franchise and the resultant persona fans project on him, Gibson is, admittedly, not interested in pursuing motorsport and had never been drifting.

— Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026
Ilie and Ghodla modeled the environment in which the resultant black hole seeds would exist and merge, calculating merger rates and the influence on the gravitational wave background.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of resultant

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“Fate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fate. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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