Fated: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when referring to something that seems controlled by fate, often with a sense of inescapability or doom. It can have a slightly negative connotation, implying an unavoidable adverse outcome.

• Their love seemed fated from the beginning, leading to heartbreak.
• The soldier felt fated to die in battle.

Best used when discussing something that appears meant to happen, often carrying a positive or neutral connotation, and suggesting an inevitable outcome based on a higher plan or purpose.

• She was destined to become a great artist.
• They were destined to meet.

Use this word when something seems set in advance by a specific plan or decision, often implying a lack of control over the outcome. It has a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on the context.

• The results of the experiment were predetermined by the researchers.
• Her career path was predetermined by her family's expectations.

Appropriate for situations where something cannot be avoided or escaped. This word is neutral and does not inherently carry positive or negative connotations, but context can provide those nuances.

• Given the circumstances, failure seemed inevitable.
• A collision between the two cars was inevitable.

This word is often used to express a sense of inevitability or unavoidable destiny, often with a slight negative connotation or in a dramatic context.

• They were fated to meet under the strangest circumstances.
• He felt fated to follow in his father's footsteps.

Typically used to indicate that something is meant to happen in the future, suggesting a sense of purpose or inevitability without necessarily implying doom or negativity.

• She was destined to become a great artist.
• Their paths were destined to cross.

This word is commonly used in religious or philosophical contexts, suggesting that something has been decided or fixed by a higher power. It often conveys a sense of inevitability with a more divine or transcendent implication.

• Many believe their lives are preordained by a higher power.
• The prophecy seemed to preordain their victory.

Often used in formal or academic contexts to suggest that the outcome has been decided in advance by some external factors or forces. It typically carries a neutral or slightly technical tone.

• The outcome was predetermined by their socioeconomic status.
• The experiment's results appeared to be predetermined by the initial conditions.