FOREORDAINED Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

foreordained 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of foreordained

as in preordained

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

foreordained

2 of 2

verb

past tense of foreordain

as in destined

to determine the fate of in advance we are such good friends, it's almost like we were foreordained to meet

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 foreordained

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 As Robinson notes, the story had to go this way because Jacob has a foreordained task in becoming one of the patriarchs of Israel. — James Wood, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 For all the talk of Senate traditions, the outcome seems pretty foreordained if the Democrats win a majority and the intractable McConnell continues as GOP leader. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 17 Aug. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreordained

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

Two years ago, no one knew The Brutalist, a three-hour drama about architecture from the guy who brought you Vox Lux, was destined to win multiple Oscars.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Smokejumpers kicked cargo destined for mountain villages in Vietnam, Hmong rebels in Laos, and Muslim dissidents in China.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of destined

Adjective

The response can be designed into the material and the way its structure is printed, allowing a flat or compact object to transform into a predetermined configuration.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
The agency’s medical focus developed through experimentation rather than a predetermined specialization.

— Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of predetermined

Verb

Kelly finds the public’s current craving for unique genre storytelling encouraging, but feels that like most trends, it may be doomed to impermanence.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
As a result, the Swift observatory is doomed to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere later this year.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of doomed

Browse Nearby Words

foreordain

foreordained

foreordaining

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of foreordained

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes