as in to destine
to determine the fate of in advance
we are such good friends, it's almost like we were foreordained to meet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 foreordain
Wagner commented that in opera the orchestra should act as a medium of premonition, indicating what is foreordained but not yet foreseen.
—
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Before anything else is said about Lana Del Rey’s new album, let it be noted that however well the record came out, it was foreordained to come in second among her artistic works of the past year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2023
Pelosi is more than happy for additional evidence to be disclosed and for the Senate to call witnesses, even after the House has impeached and when the resolution of the trial is foreordained.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 17 Jan. 2020
The outcome was not foreordained, for either Bork or Mr. Biden.
—Alexander Burns, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2019
The 41st president, who couldn’t always get his sentences straight, wasn’t foreordained for history’s hall of fame.
—Josef Joffe, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2018
Aster piles on the personal confrontations and emotional breakdowns, but compounds them with unnerving new hauntings, all the way up to an ending that feels foreordained, but still shattering.
—Tasha Robinson, The Verge, 8 June 2018
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
Before anything else is said about Lana Del Rey’s new album, let it be noted that however well the record came out, it was foreordained to come in second among her artistic works of the past year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2023
Pelosi is more than happy for additional evidence to be disclosed and for the Senate to call witnesses, even after the House has impeached and when the resolution of the trial is foreordained.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 17 Jan. 2020
The outcome was not foreordained, for either Bork or Mr. Biden.
—Alexander Burns, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2019
The 41st president, who couldn’t always get his sentences straight, wasn’t foreordained for history’s hall of fame.
—Josef Joffe, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2018
Aster piles on the personal confrontations and emotional breakdowns, but compounds them with unnerving new hauntings, all the way up to an ending that feels foreordained, but still shattering.
—Tasha Robinson, The Verge, 8 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreordain
Verb
-
Such institutions may be destined to pass away.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert says this Dyson Animal 3 saved a dirty carpet in her home that was destined for the dumpster.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Prevost was ordained the next June.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Tips for a Brazil Road Trip Divinely ordained or not, our journey left its mark.—
María Cristina Lalonde,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Our findings don’t suggest that every workplace romance is doomed or exploitative.—
Emily Nix,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Like Crazy is a movie about how destructive an obsessive relationship can be, and because Samantha is the sane one in the ensemble, she’s doomed.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Exceptionalism but for being something worse than cursed—fated, maybe—for a specific brand of suffering.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Born in 1947, Rob Reiner was, of course, the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, and seemingly fated by lineage for sitcom fame.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreordain. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share