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 news could bring some relief to staffers at CNN, who have been worried about the fate of the news division under Paramount. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 There are dark warnings of the ultimate fate lying in wait for the human race because of it. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Verb

To spare the next generation that fate, Dolly created the Imagination Library, which gave away hundreds of millions of free books to children. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Aug. 2026 But then fate — and my friend, Melissa Etheridge — stepped in. — Robert Greenblatt, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fate

Noun

Noir, by contrast, brooks no such substitutions, because its conception of authenticity cannot allow for alternative destinies.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
But antifascism remained a vital part of Americans’ self-conception, as if entering the war and winning it had always been America’s destiny.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 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

Noun

And its sudden demise comes amidst a continuing decline in funding for cultural and scientific institutions.

— Andrew Stelzer, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
In recent weeks, some leading AI firms have warned that their models’ coding abilities could foment humanity’s demise.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of demise

Verb

Some survive because treatment works, not because the cancer was detected earlier; others survive because they were overdiagnosed (diagnosed with a cancer not destined to cause symptoms or death).

— H. Gilbert Welch, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
If not, they are destined to bow out much earlier than anyone wants.

— Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of destine

Noun

The result is sophisticated yet inviting—think elevated beach house with a dash of desert aesthetic.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Another prospective study, from Emory University, found evidence of racial bias, but that the inaccurate results were not fully accounted for by variations in skin tone.

— Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Oct. 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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fat cats

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Style

“Fate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fate. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fate

noun

verb

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