as in to destine
to determine the fate of in advance
our victory in the tournament was seemingly predestined
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Recent Examples of predestine
There are nights in football when the outcome seems predestined.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Science, of course, struggles to prove whether that’s predestined in their genes, though some studies suggest that some tendency toward hoarding—put another way, collecting to excess—is heritable.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
At the same time, nothing is predestined.
—Ray Dalio, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
There’s a generic quality both to singer-songwriter Michaelson’s score (a combination of folk and Broadway pop) and to a romance that seems almost mystically predestined.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The Lionel Messi-Lamine Yamal connection For believers in the soccer gods, Lamine Yamal's ascent to the upper echelons of the sport could almost seem predestined with Lamine anointed by a Barça icon — Lionel Messi.
—Nathalie Sommer, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Ferrari Given his name, Adam Driver was seemingly predestined to play the man behind the world's most prestigious sports car.
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Your luck in life is predestined in a way.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
Josh Allen plowed his way through, as if predestined to cross the plane fully upright.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Science, of course, struggles to prove whether that’s predestined in their genes, though some studies suggest that some tendency toward hoarding—put another way, collecting to excess—is heritable.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
At the same time, nothing is predestined.
—Ray Dalio, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
There’s a generic quality both to singer-songwriter Michaelson’s score (a combination of folk and Broadway pop) and to a romance that seems almost mystically predestined.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The Lionel Messi-Lamine Yamal connection For believers in the soccer gods, Lamine Yamal's ascent to the upper echelons of the sport could almost seem predestined with Lamine anointed by a Barça icon — Lionel Messi.
—Nathalie Sommer, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Ferrari Given his name, Adam Driver was seemingly predestined to play the man behind the world's most prestigious sports car.
—Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Your luck in life is predestined in a way.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025
Josh Allen plowed his way through, as if predestined to cross the plane fully upright.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predestine
Verb
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Originally destined for slaughter during the Eid al-Adha festival, the 1,500-pound animal was seized by authorities, spared sacrifice and relocated to the capital’s zoo, where keepers lavish it with care.—
al Emrun Garjon,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
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The final season of creator Christopher Storer’s show is a slam dunk for fans and destined to be the subject of a thousand think pieces.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Parents hear so much about AI these days—how their kids are using it in the classroom and to socialize, even considering it a friend in some cases—and one of the most prominent debates going on right now is whether AI is here to save humanity, or doom it.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
7 June 2026
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The researchers were dealing mostly in speculation — the gene modification technology that scientists could use to doom the screwworm is untested at scale and not ready to be deployed.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The United Church of Christ was the first to ordain a woman and an openly gay man.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
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While the country's Orthodox religious authorities still refuse to officially ordain women as rabbis, this opportunity could open doors to other leadership roles.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
China and Japan weren’t fated to become 21st century enemies.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
-
Just fate, destiny, and divine plans.—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predestine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predestine. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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