Definition

1. Noun:

   • An unpleasant, terrible, or disastrous destiny; a grim fate: "doom" refers to a negative outcome or end that is unavoidable and often involves death, destruction, or great misfortune.
   • Death, ruin, or destruction: "doom" can signify the final, catastrophic end of something.
   • (Often capitalized) Judgment, particularly final judgment: In religious contexts, "Doom" can refer to the Last Judgment, the final day of divine reckoning.

2. Verb:

   • To condemn to an unhappy or disastrous fate: To make failure, destruction, or suffering certain for someone or something.
   • To pronounce judgment or sentence upon in a court of law: To officially declare someone guilty and assign a punishment.
   • (Archaic) To decree or ordain beforehand; to destine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The ancient prophecy spoke of doom for the kingdom. (The prophecy foretold a disastrous fate for the kingdom.)
  • A sense of doom hung over the city as the enemy army approached. (A feeling of impending destruction filled the city.)
  • He met his doom in the final battle. (He met his death in the final battle.)

• Verb:

  • Poor planning will doom the project from the start. (Poor planning will ensure the project's failure.)
  • The judge doomed the criminal to a life in prison. (The judge sentenced the criminal to life in prison.)
  • (Archaic) She was doomed from birth to a life of greatness. (She was destined from birth for a life of greatness.)

Advanced Usage

• "Seal someone's doom": To make someone's failure or destruction inevitable.

  • That one mistake sealed the company's doom. (That one mistake made the company's failure certain.)

• "A prophet of doom": Someone who constantly predicts bad things will happen; a pessimist.

  • Don't listen to him; he's just a prophet of doom. (Don't pay attention to his constant pessimistic predictions.)

• "Doom and gloom": A feeling or atmosphere of extreme pessimism and despair.

  • The meeting was full of doom and gloom about the future of the industry. (The meeting was dominated by pessimistic talk about the industry's future.)

Variants and Related Words

• Doomed (adj): Certain to fail, suffer, or be destroyed.
  • The doomed ship sank beneath the waves. (The ship, which was certain to be destroyed, sank.)
• Doomsday (n): The day of the Last Judgment; any day of catastrophe or final destruction.
  • They had a doomsday bunker stocked with supplies. (They had a bunker prepared for a catastrophic event.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Destiny, fate, downfall, ruin, destruction, judgment.
• Verb: Condemn, sentence, destine, predestine, consign.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Doom" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically conveyed as a simple verb.)

Related Idioms

• "Till the crack of doom": Until the end of the world; forever.
  • They vowed to love each other till the crack of doom. (They promised to love each other forever, until the end of time.)
• "Meet one's doom": To die or be destroyed.
  • The villain finally met his doom at the hero's hands. (The villain was finally killed by the hero.)

Noun

1. an unpleasant or disastrous destiny
   • everyone was aware of the approaching doom but was helpless to avoid it
   • that's unfortunate but it isn't the end of the world

Verb

1. make certain of the failure or destruction of
   • This decision will doom me to lose my position
2. pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
   • He was condemned to ten years in prison
3. decree or designate beforehand
   • She was destined to become a great pianist