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doom

12 synonyms and 1 antonym for doom, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction.

“The old sailors spoke of the ship's doom in hushed voices.”

2. verb

To condemn someone or something to a certain, usually terrible, fate.

“The failed harvest doomed the village to a hard winter.”

Opposites

How to use doom

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

sense of doom doomed to fail impending doom

Etymology

From Old English dom, meaning "judgment" — the same root survives in the legal sense of "deem" and originally referred to a court's ruling before it narrowed to mean a grim fate.

Full origin of doom →

Frequently asked questions

What does “doom” mean?
The word “doom” means a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction. In plain terms, a terrible, unavoidable outcome, or to seal something into that fate.
How do you pronounce “doom”?
“Doom” is pronounced doom (/duːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “doom” in a sentence?
Here is “doom” used in a sentence: “The old sailors spoke of the ship's doom in hushed voices.”
What part of speech is “doom”?
Depending on how it is used, “doom” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “doom” come from?
The word “doom” comes from Old English. From Old English dom, meaning "judgment" — the same root survives in the legal sense of "deem" and originally referred to a court's ruling before it narrowed to mean a grim fate.
Is “doom” a common word?
“Doom” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “doom” have?
“Doom” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction.
What is the difference between "doom" and "fate"?
"Fate" is a neutral term for whatever is destined to happen, which could be good or bad. "Doom" specifically refers to a terrible fate that seems certain and impossible to avoid, especially death or destruction, so it always carries a negative meaning.
What is the difference between "doom" and "destiny"?
"Destiny" often implies a meaningful or even positive path someone is meant to follow, while "doom" specifically describes a terrible, seemingly unavoidable fate, especially death or destruction.
Can "doom" be used as a verb as well as a noun?
Yes. As a noun, "doom" refers to a terrible, seemingly unavoidable fate. As a verb, it means to condemn someone or something to that kind of certain, usually terrible, fate, as in "the decision doomed the project."

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.