doom

1 of 2

noun

1
: a law or ordinance especially in Anglo-Saxon England
2
a
: judgment, decision
especially : a judicial condemnation or sentence
3
a
: destiny
especially : unhappy destiny
b
: death, ruin

doom

2 of 2

verb

doomed; dooming; dooms

transitive verb

1
: to give judgment against : condemn
2
a
: to fix the fate of : destine
felt he was doomed to a life of loneliness
b
: to make certain the failure or destruction of
the scandal doomed her chances for election
Choose the Right Synonym for doom

fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end.

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 doom in a Sentence

Noun The papers are filled with stories of gloom and doom. the story of a mysterious creature who lures travelers to their doom Verb A criminal record will doom your chances of becoming a politician. the actor felt that he was doomed to be forever remembered for that one terrible performance
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Despite their dire retirement prospects, the picture isn’t just one of doom and gloom. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Some version of this doom loop has played out in Hong Kong’s nightlife scene ever since the pandemic, when many music venues closed never to reopen. Chris Lau, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Just as pervasive is a dismal resignation, a feeling of helplessness against a certain doom. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The stream of workers, like Mr. Lang, trading cities for suburbia has bred fears among economists about the possibility of a doom loop: Fewer workers commute downtown, which means less business for shops and a diminished sense of safety, which means even fewer people want to commute downtown. Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 As Paul’s authority expands, however, Chani foresees doom at the end of his vengeful path, and wisely realizes that messiahs are often just another form of dictator. David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 There’s always something to send us into a doom spiral. Claire Cohen, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024 The 43-year-old South Carolina native’s two-month doom spiral had been for nothing. Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 When the pandemic hit, the once superstar city spiraled into a perpetual doom loop seemingly overnight as offices emptied, stores shuttered, and residents fled to the Sunbelt. Alena Botros, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024
Verb
De Neve was keen to point out the successes in youth happiness in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and some regions of Asia, as a sign that youths aren’t necessarily doomed. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 20 Mar. 2024 Andrews finished with 21 points but was part of back-to-back shot clock violations that doomed the Bruins’ comeback hopes on the way to their fourth consecutive defeat. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 That’s not to say Japan is doomed, Raymo asserted – the fertility rate will likely even out at some point, and the country will adjust. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 When another biopsy shipment was diverted from Heathrow Airport to another airport in Manchester, England, because of fog, the sample seemed doomed, Dr. Hill said. Delthia Ricks, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Littering appropriations bills with culture-war poison pills — as House Republicans had done in versions of spending legislation last year — would have doomed its chances of passage. Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Are you doomed to search for the track, album, or artist on those services manually? Justin Pot, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, the very best systems and resources are doomed to create mediocre results without each team member possessing certain traits at a personal level. Zach Fuller, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The implication that Montessori would make parenting orderly and predictable was always doomed to fail. Kate Cray, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English dōm; akin to Old High German tuom condition, state, Old English dōn to do

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of doom was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near doom

Cite this Entry

“Doom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doom. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

doom

1 of 2 noun
1
: a decision made by a court : sentence
2
a
: a usually unhappy end

doom

2 of 2 verb
1
2
: to set on a fixed course to an unhappy end
the plan was doomed to failure

More from Merriam-Webster on doom

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!