divine 1 of 3

adjective

də-ˈvīn How to pronounce divine (audio)
Definition of divinenext
1
as in wonderful
of the very best kind how about a piece of the most divine apple pie I've ever tasted!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in heavenly
of, relating to, or being God for these divine gifts let us be truly thankful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divine

2 of 3

noun

as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church the great influence exerted by the Puritan divines in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

divine

3 of 3

verb

as in to anticipate
to realize or know about beforehand it was easy to divine his intention of asking his girlfriend to marry him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word divine different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of divine are anticipate, foreknow, and foresee. While all these words mean "to know beforehand," divine adds to foresee the suggestion of exceptional wisdom or discernment.

was able to divine Europe's rapid recovery from the war

When could anticipate be used to replace divine?

Although the words anticipate and divine have much in common, anticipate implies taking action about or responding emotionally to something before it happens.

the waiter anticipated our every need

When might foreknow be a better fit than divine?

The synonyms foreknow and divine are sometimes interchangeable, but foreknow usually implies supernatural assistance, as through revelation.

if only we could foreknow our own destinies

When can foresee be used instead of divine?

While the synonyms foresee and divine are close in meaning, foresee implies nothing about how the knowledge is derived and may apply to ordinary reasoning and experience.

economists should have foreseen the recession

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 divine
Adjective
Like Jonah, Jay confronts the possibility that divine will, fate, or whatever governs the universe cannot be outrun. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 Many cinematic Hanumans The divine monkey Hanuman is one of the most beloved Ramayana characters. — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
The title establishes the spiritual foundation of the franchise, which centers on Lord Shri Krishna and depicts what the studio describes as an expansive spiritual universe built around devotion, dharma and the bond between humanity and the divine. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Some interpreters contend that the many gods are manifestations of the singular transcendent divine. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Habermas shares Horkheimer and Adorno’s doubts about such a scheme, which puts too much faith in individuals’ ability to divine truth on their own. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 According to Esteve Umbert, one of the architects, Guadì also left geometric clues to help with construction, such as a hyperbolic paraboloid used to divine the shape of a church spire. — Seth Doane, CBS News, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for divine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for divine
  1. wonderful
  2. heavenly
  3. priest
  4. anticipate
  5. excellent
  6. holy
  7. preacher
  8. foresee
Adjective
  • Bruna is fantastic, and Alison is a wonderful producer with a great eye.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
  • It is carefully crafted and wincingly sincere, a wonderful conversion of inversions.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • The delectable dip paired with the sugary chips was a heavenly combination, with a surprising burst of chocolate in every scoop.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The duo think they’re headed to the heavenly afterlife only to arrive at the office of the Devil (voiced by Culkin), who seems overwhelmed by his job.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of heavenly
Noun
  • For a second day Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • According to the attorneys, the priests targeted more than 100 young Black children at Holy Angels parish between 1969 and 2002.
    — CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of priest
Verb
  • The Duo could also prove more accessible than some industry watchers had anticipated.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Kif Leswing, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Some strategists, anticipating that the committee may raise flags, now try to get ahead of the process by submitting additional documentation, including filmmaker quotes and source materials, to explain why a film belongs in its intended category.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of anticipate
Adjective
  • Williams aims to help build a county government that works for everyday people by lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services and protecting fundamental rights.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Nikko Remigio’s reputation as a return man isn’t splashy plays, but rather excellent ball security.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • Under what was known as the Status Quo, a set of unwritten understandings between Israel and Jordan, the custodian of Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites, Jews could visit the shrine, but only Muslims could worship there.
    — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier on Saturday, the Houthies threatened new attacks on the kingdom's airports, except for the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, warning passengers not to travel.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of holy
Noun
  • And yet another member, Cody Smith, said his grandfather was preacher of the church for more than 40 years.
    — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This brings to mind a song from yesteryear about the preacher and the bear.
    — Alfred H. Moses, Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of preacher
Verb
  • But getting swept off your feet by someone who’s effectively a nearly seven-foot tree is, of course, rarely foreseen.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But the Kuvshynovs and their legal team say what happened to their daughter was preventable — and foreseen.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of foresee

Browse Nearby Words

divinations
divine
divined
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Cite this Entry

“Divine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/divine. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on divine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about divine

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