as in to destine
to determine the fate of in advance
we are such good friends, it's almost like we were foreordained to meet
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Recent Examples of foreordain
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, in February, 2022, was no more inevitable or foreordained than the U.S. invasion of Iraq, in 2003.
—
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 June 2023
Before anything else is said about Lana Del Rey’s new album, let it be noted that however well the record came out, it was foreordained to come in second among her artistic works of the past year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2023
Pelosi is more than happy for additional evidence to be disclosed and for the Senate to call witnesses, even after the House has impeached and when the resolution of the trial is foreordained.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 17 Jan. 2020
The outcome was not foreordained, for either Bork or Mr. Biden.
—Alexander Burns, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2019
The 41st president, who couldn’t always get his sentences straight, wasn’t foreordained for history’s hall of fame.
—Josef Joffe, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2018
Aster piles on the personal confrontations and emotional breakdowns, but compounds them with unnerving new hauntings, all the way up to an ending that feels foreordained, but still shattering.
—Tasha Robinson, The Verge, 8 June 2018
This is hardly foreordained, especially if the U.S. reasserts itself on the global stage and rallies like-minded nations against the revisionists.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2017
Egypt’s slide back into authoritarianism wasn’t foreordained.
—Joshua Hammer, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2017
Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 June 2023
Before anything else is said about Lana Del Rey’s new album, let it be noted that however well the record came out, it was foreordained to come in second among her artistic works of the past year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Mar. 2023
Pelosi is more than happy for additional evidence to be disclosed and for the Senate to call witnesses, even after the House has impeached and when the resolution of the trial is foreordained.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 17 Jan. 2020
The outcome was not foreordained, for either Bork or Mr. Biden.
—Alexander Burns, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2019
The 41st president, who couldn’t always get his sentences straight, wasn’t foreordained for history’s hall of fame.
—Josef Joffe, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2018
Aster piles on the personal confrontations and emotional breakdowns, but compounds them with unnerving new hauntings, all the way up to an ending that feels foreordained, but still shattering.
—Tasha Robinson, The Verge, 8 June 2018
This is hardly foreordained, especially if the U.S. reasserts itself on the global stage and rallies like-minded nations against the revisionists.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2017
Egypt’s slide back into authoritarianism wasn’t foreordained.
—Joshua Hammer, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreordain
Verb
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Having flat feet doesn’t mean you’re destined for a life of discomfort.—
Sara Coughlin,
SELF,
3 Apr. 2025
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Yet our attention economy rewards those who excel at creating moments of conflict destined for social media.—
Nate Bennett,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He was born in Wichita and ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita in May 1994.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2025
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Born in Philadelphia, Jones in 1802 became the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church.—
Jared Mccallister,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Yes, actual playoffs Slow start, sloppy play dooms Sharks in loss to desperate Rangers Why the Sharks likely will not recall Gushchin or Bordeleau this season The Sharks also had issues on the power play Sunday, going 0-for-3 with the man advantage without a shot on net.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
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If the 6-foot-2 Weber State product misses the postseason, that would essentially doom the Bucks' already-slim championship aspirations.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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When you’re fated Photo: HBO Not to regress, but Rick and Chelsea are totes OTP.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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Spencer is fated to be haunted by Alex’s memory for the rest of his life.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foreordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreordain. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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