destiny

noun

des·​ti·​ny ˈde-stə-nē 

plural destinies

1

: something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune

wants to control his own destiny

2

: a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency

felt that destiny would determine their future

Synonyms

• circumstance
• doom
• fate
• fortune
• kismet
• lot
• portion

Choose the Right Synonym for destiny

fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end.

fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.

the fate of the submarine is unknown

destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end.

the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world

lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance

it was her lot to die childless

, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil.

remorse was his daily portion

doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.

if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain

Examples of destiny in a Sentence

They believed it was their destiny to be together.

motivated by a sense of destiny

Recent Examples on the Web

Smith took control of her destiny by leaving Brooklyn in 1919, at the age of twenty-two, for Michigan. —Perri Klass, The New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2024

On top of that, after getting some clarity about the No. 1 seed during the week, the Bills now control the rest of their destiny in maximizing their playoff path. —Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

Achieving such heights evoked images of power and the ability to shape destinies. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

Still in firm control of their own playoff destiny with road games remaining against the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders — two teams already eliminated from the postseason — the Chargers aren’t waiting to activate their personal playoff mode. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English destinee, from Anglo-French, from feminine of destiné, past participle of destiner — see destine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destiny

• manifest destiny

Kids Definition

destiny

noun

des·​ti·​ny ˈdes-tə-nē 

plural destinies

1

: something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune

2

: the course of events held to be arranged by a superhuman power