doom

1 of 2

noun

1
: a law or ordinance especially in Anglo-Saxon England
2
a
: judgment, decision
especially : a judicial condemnation or sentence
3
a
: destiny
especially : unhappy destiny
b
: death, ruin

doom

2 of 2

verb

doomed; dooming; dooms

transitive verb

1
: to give judgment against : condemn
2
a
: to fix the fate of : destine
felt he was doomed to a life of loneliness
b
: to make certain the failure or destruction of
the scandal doomed her chances for election
Choose the Right Synonym for doom

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 doom in a Sentence

Noun The papers are filled with stories of gloom and doom. the story of a mysterious creature who lures travelers to their doom Verb A criminal record will doom your chances of becoming a politician. the actor felt that he was doomed to be forever remembered for that one terrible performance
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Use social media with intention – and not for doom scrolling. Contributing Writer, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024 Loading and editing Illustrator files was just as snappy as doing the same on the MacBook Pro M2 Max, as were the usual doom scrolling, browser tab hoarding, and other things that enhance your productivity and take it away at the same time. Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
Opening in the same year was the elegant Interlaken Hotel, on the shores of Twin Lakes, a gorgeous but ultimately doomed retreat for well-off visitors. James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024 Republicans, including James, rejected it en masse under the theory that once regions began selectively pulling areas out, the bill was doomed — as well as the fact that drilling in the Great Lakes has already been banned for decades. Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for doom 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dōm; akin to Old High German tuom condition, state, Old English dōn to do

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doom was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near doom

Cite this Entry

“Doom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doom. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

doom

1 of 2 noun
1
: a decision made by a court : sentence
2
a
: a usually unhappy end

doom

2 of 2 verb
1
2
: to set on a fixed course to an unhappy end
the plan was doomed to failure

More from Merriam-Webster on doom

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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