preordained 1 of 2

adjective

as in destined

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

preordained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of preordain
as in doomed
to determine the fate of in advance my wife and I are such soulmates, I'm convinced that our marriage was preordained

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 preordained
Verb
Experts say the outcome of the review seems preordained, although the matter is playing out in unexplored legal territory. — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Just because there is some constraint, doesn’t mean that your path has to be preordained. — Nir Bashan, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Whatever happened—injury, illness, flood, or drought—felt preordained, part of God’s grand scheme. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026 Given the slow start to his pro career, a spot at the World Cup, never mind the starting nod, was far from preordained. — Sean Gregory, Time, 10 June 2026 The purchase seems preordained, given that both Gert-Jan and Corinne, like Pascon and Boccara, are lively and curious intellectuals. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 What wasn’t preordained is just how beautifully executed the entire venture turns out to be. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026 Will this year’s Oscar awards be another fait accompli, a bloated snoozer that’s as boring and seemingly preordained as this year’s Super Bowl? — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026 Some might assume that Gooding’s Hollywood career was preordained. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preordained
  1. predetermined
  2. destined
  3. foreordained
  4. doomed
  5. predestined
  6. ordained
  7. possible
  8. probable
Adjective
  • Nakogee recalls cutting predetermined lengths of cable, then repackaging it onto spools to load onto cargo aircraft.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
  • Chiuri made materials, rather than a predetermined silhouette, the starting point of her first Fendi couture collection.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 July 2026
Definition of predetermined
Verb
  • Athletic and traditionally handsome, Thom is destined to become the Homecoming King.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026
  • There is no doubt Nobu and San Sebastian were destined to meet.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of destined
Adjective
  • Her foray into television, which started in 2017, was not exactly foreordained.
    — Tammy LaGorce, New York Times, 14 May 2024
  • With all of those movements, when the central issue was really crystallized as a choice between what is clearly right and just, and what is clearly unjust and wrong and deadly and dangerous, then the outcome becomes foreordained.
    — Cara Buckley, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Definition of foreordained
Verb
  • The company is far from doomed even after Demis Hassabis stepped down as CEO of DeepMind Wednesday and Chief Scientist Jeff Dean left to found a startup.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Which is why Infantino’s campaign for reelection to a fourth term as FIFA president next March, a campaign which had the support of more than 200 FIFA members two weeks ago, now appears doomed.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of doomed
Adjective
  • In retrospect, Sumner seemed predestined to become a famous abolitionist lawyer.
    — Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude disregarded all threats of legal action, directing Running Fence to complete its predestined voyage into the sea.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of predestined
Verb
  • Wexler was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2017.
    — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
  • He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1985 and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2010.
    — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2026
Definition of ordained
Adjective
  • This gracious grand dame has possibly the best possible address in all of Stockholm, overlooking Strökajen Harbor in the city’s Norrmalm district, a short walk from the Royal Palace and the Old Town.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities haven't stated a possible cause for the other two fires.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • The official announcement confirming this special event is typically made two weeks in advance, suggesting Wednesday, August 26, as the probable date.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • However, official coroner's reports revealed her cause of death to be probable alcohol withdrawal seizures brought on by chronic alcohol use disorder.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of probable

Browse Nearby Words

preordain
preordained
preordaining
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preordained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preordained. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on preordained

Nglish: Translation of preordained for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All