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
The clock has been ticking for Tim ever since, as he's kept his family — wife Victoria (Parker Posey), sons Saxon (Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), and daughter Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) — in the dark and blissfully unaware of the impending doom. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2025 However, the survey results aren’t all doom and gloom, as 79% of parents reported relief in venting to friends about their most stressful parenting moments. Christian Dashiell, Parents, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
But without empathy, responsibility, agency, and free will he is doomed to remain a wooden facsimile. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 And those who don’t learn from the history of this business are usually doomed to repeat it. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doom. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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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