circumstances

noun

plural of circumstance
1
as in destinies
a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand the condemned murderer seemed indifferent to his circumstance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in things
something that happens due to unexpected circumstances, the test will be postponed

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in luck
the uncertain course of events I was a victim of circumstance, for nothing that I could have done would have made a difference

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 circumstances Goodness knows what happened there and what circumstances compelled him to write that Instagram post, but his future at Spurs now looks untenable. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 While the factual circumstances differ, there are notable parallels between social-media apps and sports-betting apps. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Nick has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstances. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026 Aggravating circumstances will likely play a key role in the case, as they could be used to justify imposing the death penalty for Robinson if he is found guilty. — Bill Chappell, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 Corporate tax treatment depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each business. — Alia Noor, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Depending on the circumstances, criminal charges could be possible following an investigation. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The health department or another public health authority may provide specific quarantine instructions based on an individual’s circumstances. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 But as students settle into classes, unexpected housing costs, higher-than-anticipated expenses or changes in financial circumstances can create a need for additional funding. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumstances
  1. destinies
  2. things
  3. luck
  4. fates
  5. events
  6. chances
  7. incidents
  8. accidents
Noun
  • People looking out for themselves have compromised the fates of those who have less control over their destinies.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Mirren wants to store her fest statue, which keeps mysteriously appearing next to an Oscar statuette, in its box in a different take on Karlovy Vary winners’ and trophies’ destinies.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2026
Definition of destinies
Noun
  • You could be tempted to dismiss a creative venture or categorize a social invite as frivolous, all because there are more productive things to do.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The curved back is another nice touch that keeps things modern and fresh.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of things
Noun
  • If Dublin has any luck left for underdogs, Belichick could certainly use some.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Games that involve equal parts strategy and luck are ideal for groups that meet regularly.
    — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of luck
Noun
  • People looking out for themselves have compromised the fates of those who have less control over their destinies.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Belle and Cal were ambushed in the finale and shot at by gunmen who were later revealed to be hired by Tom Wheeler, and the episode ended without confirming either of their fates.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fates
Noun
  • With household budgets under pressure, consumers are searching harder for value — shopping earlier, comparing prices across retailers and spreading purchases across multiple promotional events.
    — Jill Standish, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Signs quickly piled up at his roadside memorial blaming Bustillos for the chain of events and telling other drivers to slow down.
    — Jacob Sisneros, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of events
Noun
  • The Astros, meanwhile, made the most of some of their chances.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • To improve chances of a timely reply, patients should start messages by greeting their doctor by name, ideally including both first and last names.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of chances
Noun
  • Last year, an explosive device there killed eight soldiers in one of the deadliest such incidents in Mexico.
    — María Verza, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Another is investigating dozens of incidents in which Teslas using partial self-driving software ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.
    — Bernard Condon, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of incidents
Noun
  • Deadly traffic accidents claim thousands of lives every year in Egypt, which has a poor transportation safety record.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Even though the department no longer dispatches officers to the scenes of minor accidents, LAPD statistics show that enforcement the department’s 308-member traffic bureau has gone up.
    — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of accidents

Browse Nearby Words

circumstance
circumstances
circumstantial
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Cite this Entry

“Circumstances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumstances. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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