FATES Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

fates 1 of 2

noun

plural of fate

as in destinies

a state or end that seemingly has been decided beforehand the belief that it was this country's fate to extend from sea to sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in outcomes

a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause the fate of the presidential election hinged on a few thousand votes in a single state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deaths

the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities he met his fate in a tragic highway accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fate

as in destines

to determine the fate of in advance the warning that the lack of an advanced education will fate a person to a lifetime of below-average earnings

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of fates

Noun

Legend has it that sad fates befell those who made her angry and happy ones those who were kind to her. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 As their interpersonal dynamics fray, a constant tug-of-war between power and vulnerability not only shapes the characters’ individual choices, but also profoundly impacts their ultimate journeys and tragic fates. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 The team's research clarifies how the environments around infant stars directly affect planetary fates and, in turn, the survival of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, that are potentially capable of hosting life. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026 The fates of Jane Doe and Nolan Wells leave us longing for the Golden Rule, writes columnist LZ Granderson. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Through a particular sequence of such branching decisions, Waddington argued, cells specialize into their mature types, or fates, each expressing a particular set of genes. — Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 The Kunstmuseum Basel will receive $120,000 to examine 336 drawings in its collection with provenances previously flagged as problematic, as well as the fates of the drawings’ sellers and the museum’s collection strategies between 1933 and 1945. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 From what we’ve been told, the duo were blindsided and upset to learn about their fates from Thursday night’s reports without ever receiving a phone call from Skydance co-CEO David Ellison. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026 As the extraterrestrials prepare their arrival, down on the surface several strangers find their fates linked. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

The expansion of the category and Nolan’s increased Oscar success since Dunkirk have changed his films’ Oscar fates. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fates

Noun

Noir, by contrast, brooks no such substitutions, because its conception of authenticity cannot allow for alternative destinies.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
People looking out for themselves have compromised the fates of those who have less control over their destinies.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of destinies

Noun

Those with high levels of hope had better later outcomes in health, education and employment.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
This evolved into The ROS1ders, a global group of patients and caregivers that seeks to improve outcomes for all ROS1+ cancers through community, education, and research.

— STAT Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of outcomes

Noun

The deaths were confirmed by officials from Shifa, Hamad, Nasser and Al-Aqsa hospitals, as well as an American field hospital.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
The deaths of two CIA agents and two Mexican officers in an April crash after a drug-lab raid have triggered a rare federal treason case against Chihuahua’s former top prosecutor.

— María Verza, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of deaths

Verb

Despite some promise across its eight episodes, the Prime original series builds to a deflating conclusion that dooms the entire project.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Fans continue to ask Carney about Hadestown’s climactic moment, when Orpheus dooms Eurydice forever by turning to look at her on the road back from hell.

— Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

Definition of dooms

Noun

The recall classification was updated this month to Class ll — meaning exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
As the new technology pervades the campaign trail ahead of a crucial midterm election, Ridout warned the consequences of AI ads go beyond just individual elections and have the potential to shape the very psychology of elections more broadly.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of consequences

Noun

At-home chemical peels can help maintain certain results by exfoliating dead skin cells, smoothing texture, and gradually fading lingering discoloration.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
With 93% of the votes reported, nearly 76% of respondents chose to remain part of Canada, according to the preliminary referendum results.

— Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of results

Noun

The songs above fall into three categories, as their runs reached such lengths due to artists’ passings; a record-setting movie; or multiple holidays.

— Gary Trust, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026
What stood out most, however, was just how emotional the event was, particularly considering the many recent passings of some of our most beloved film and TV luminaries.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026

Definition of passings

Browse Nearby Words

fateful

fates

fathead

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fates. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fates

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes