1
as in destinies
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
2
as in outcomes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deaths
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities
he met his fate in a tragic highway accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in destines
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fates
Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
The contest over causation goes to parents’ simultaneous senses of responsibility and helplessness about their children’s fates.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
The novel’s women and children include 16-year-old June Branahan; June’s newborn daughter, Grace; her mother, Bethel; her Aunty Beauty; and her deceased Granny Justice, who watches over, and sometimes narrates, the fates of her living kin.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Two others who authorities say have tortured their children await their courtroom fates after being hit with dozens of abuse counts.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Several of the notorious film’s plot holes are filled and the fates of some minor characters are revealed.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2026
Artifacts and remains could help researchers understand the daily lives, roles and fates of ordinary sailors — moving beyond broad historical accounts to the personal level.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
The artifacts and remains could help researchers understand the daily lives, roles and fates of the sailors — moving beyond broad historical accounts to the personal level.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Mantello has chosen to have different actors play the young Biff (Joaquin Consuelos) and the young Happy (Jake Termine), sharpening the contrast between their potential and their fates.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026
Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
The contest over causation goes to parents’ simultaneous senses of responsibility and helplessness about their children’s fates.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
The novel’s women and children include 16-year-old June Branahan; June’s newborn daughter, Grace; her mother, Bethel; her Aunty Beauty; and her deceased Granny Justice, who watches over, and sometimes narrates, the fates of her living kin.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Two others who authorities say have tortured their children await their courtroom fates after being hit with dozens of abuse counts.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Several of the notorious film’s plot holes are filled and the fates of some minor characters are revealed.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Apr. 2026
Artifacts and remains could help researchers understand the daily lives, roles and fates of ordinary sailors — moving beyond broad historical accounts to the personal level.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026
The artifacts and remains could help researchers understand the daily lives, roles and fates of the sailors — moving beyond broad historical accounts to the personal level.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fates
Noun
-
Twelve destinies searching for peace and belonging, while the house remains a haven through decades of turmoil.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But Calle, like any writer, sketches her characters and frames their destinies.—
Elisa Wouk Almino
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The conditions in the strait remain in flux, some analysts said, leaving a wide range of possible outcomes.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The city will also look at outcomes in foot traffic, business activity, and overall vibrancy for markers of success.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No deaths have been reported from the severe weather and tornado outbreak.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
19 Apr. 2026
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Among the victims were two boys, ages 12 and 14, whose deaths have rattled their community in Northeast Washington and prompted broader fears about an uptick in gun violence that typically unfolds in warmer weather.—
Marissa J. Lang,
Washington Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No one else had to live under the shadow of its consequences.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Others express skepticism over applying developing, arguably flawed and still relatively untested AI technology to criminal justice, with its far-reaching societal consequences.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Nov. 2025
-
The mission, the fourth of 2025, would also be Starship's first flight since May 27 amid a year plagued by explosive demises for the vehicle.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This leads to the fracture in Catherine and Heathcliff's relationship that dooms them all to ruin.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Without that sense of desperate loneliness, what dooms Frankenstein and the Creature to their deaths?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
South Korea‘s influence internationally continues to boom, as K-pop drives youth music tastes and shows such as Squid Game deliver outsized results for the likes of Netflix.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2026
-
See where and when Fort Worth-area teams will play and check back for updates and results.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What stood out most, however, was just how emotional the event was, particularly considering the many recent passings of some of our most beloved film and TV luminaries.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
2 Mar. 2026
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When annual results are compiled each January, winners tend to be amateur grim reapers who predicted a mix of shocking young deaths and the passings of anyone over 90.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fates. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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