star-crossed

adjective

ˈstär-ˌkrȯst How to pronounce star-crossed (audio)
Synonyms of star-crossednext
: not favored by the stars : ill-fated
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life …—William Shakespeare

Synonyms of star-crossed

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Examples of star-crossed in a Sentence

Romeo and Juliet are among literature's most famous star-crossed lovers
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.
The legacy of nuclear propulsion is deep and star-crossed. — David W. Brown, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026 The best bet is that SpaceX proves a scientific triumph, and star-crossed as an stock. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026 The star-crossed extra twist, of course, was that only days after the national-title game the rules changed to allow the dunk again. — Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026 The Vikings have begun a new year with yet another quarterback quandary, a familiar scenario for this star-crossed franchise. — CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for star-crossed

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of star-crossed was in 1597

Rhymes for star-crossed

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Browse Nearby Words

star count
star-crossed
star cucumber
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Cite this Entry

“Star-crossed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/star-crossed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

star-crossed

adjective
ˈstär-ˌkrȯst
: unlucky sense 1, unfortunate
Etymology

so called from the idea that stars control the lives and actions of people

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