doom and fate share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. doom means “decree or designate beforehand”. fate means “an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future”. fate is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdum/
1.v.decree or designate beforehand
“She was destined to become a great pianist”
2.v.pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
“He was condemned to ten years in prison”
3.v.make certain of the failure or destruction of
“This decision will doom me to lose my position”
/ˈfeɪt/
1.n.an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
2.n.the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman)
“we are helpless in the face of destiny”
3.n.your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
“whatever my fortune may be”
| doom | fate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdum/ | /ˈfeɪt/ |
| Said | doom | fayt |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb |
| Senses | 4 | 4 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | destine, fate, designate | destiny |
Full entry for doom · Full entry for fate · More comparisons