fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome.
the fate of the submarine is unknown
destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end.
the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world
lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance
it was her lot to die childless
, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil.
remorse was his daily portion
doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate.
if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain
Examples of destiny in a Sentence
They believed it was their destiny to be together.
motivated by a sense of destiny
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Your Legacy Starts Today The time to take control of your financial destiny is now.—Sharon Olson, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Elon Musk proclaims 'the entire destiny of humanity' rests on Wisconsin court election GOP jitters?—Daniel Wiessner, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 The question is whether Greenland will be allowed to control its own destiny at a time of rising international tensions when Trump sees the island as key to U.S. national security.—Danica Kirka, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025 Teams like the No. 1 Hingham girls (24-1-1) in Div. 1, the No. 1 Nauset boys (24-0-1) in Div. 3, and the No. 1 Billerica boys (23-1-1) in Div. 2, were seemingly teams of destiny.—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for destiny
Word History
Etymology
Middle English destinee, from Anglo-French, from feminine of destiné, past participle of destiner — see destine
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