What is doomed? Pronunciation and usage in English

doomed means . Learn how to pronounce and use doomed through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of doomed

doomedadjective

/duːmd//duːmd/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "doomed" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Basic Sound:

  • "do": Pronounced like "dough" – as in, the bread. (Sounds like /doʊ/)
  • "omed": This is where most people stumble. It's NOT "um-med". It's pronounced like “oh-med”.

2. Putting it Together:

The full word is pronounced: ˈduːmd

Let's break that down further:

  • ˈduːm – This part is the core.
    • ˈduː – This is like saying “doo” with a long “oo” sound, as in “moon” or “blue.” It’s a drawn-out vowel sound.
    • -md – This is a very quick, almost silent “m” followed by a “d” sound. You almost don't consciously hear the “m.”

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("doo").
  • Long "oo" sound: Really emphasize that lengthening of the "oo" sound.
  • Quick "m": Minimize the "m" sound - almost let it slide into the "d."

Resources for Hearing It:

  • Google Audio: Simply search "how to pronounce doomed" on Google and you’ll get an audio playback button.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/doomed/ – This site offers pronunciations from native speakers.

Would you like me to:

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Usage and examples with the word doomed in English

Let's break down how to use the word "doomed" effectively in English. It's a powerful word with a specific nuance.

1. Core Meaning: Predetermined Failure

At its heart, "doomed" means destined to fail or perish. It implies a fate that is inescapable, often due to external forces or a tragic flaw. It’s about something having a certain, horrible outcome that cannot be avoided.

2. Common Ways to Use It:

  • Describing a Person's Fate: This is the most frequent usage.

    • "He was doomed from birth with a terrible illness." (Suggests an inescapable fate.)
    • "The villagers believed the castle was doomed after the massacre." (Implies a negative destiny attached to the place.)
    • "Despite his efforts, he felt doomed to repeat his mistakes." (Suggests a feeling of powerlessness in the face of a bad outcome.)

  • Describing a Situation/Project: "Doomed" can be applied to projects, plans, or situations that are certain to fail.

    • "The company's business model was doomed from the start." (Means the business was always going to fail.)
    • “The colony was doomed to fail because of lack of resources.” (The situation itself was destined for failure)

  • Figurative Use (often dramatic): “Doomed” is frequently used with dramatic effect, often in literature, film, and storytelling. It’s about creating a sense of tragic inevitability.

    • "Love might be doomed in this world." (Poetic, suggesting a fundamental, heartbreaking truth.)
    • (In a movie scene): “He stared into the abyss, knowing he was doomed.” (Creates a feeling of despair and hopelessness.)

3. Variations and Related Words:

  • Doomed to: This is a very common construction. “He is doomed to regret his decision.” (Means he will inevitably regret it.)
  • Dooms: As a verb – “The weather doomed the festival.” (Means the weather caused it to fail.)
  • Doomsman/Doomswoman: A person or thing that brings about destruction or misfortune. “The newspaper was often called the doomsman of the town.”

4. Levels of Intensity:

  • Mildly Doomed: Suggests a difficult path with a significant chance of failure.
  • Severely Doomed: Indicates almost certain, devastating failure.

5. Examples in Context:

  • “After the devastating earthquake, the city felt utterly doomed.” (Strong, implies near-total destruction.)
  • "Despite the warnings, he continued down the path, feeling doomed to an unhappy life.” (Personal feeling of impending sadness)
  • "The ancient prophecy foretold that the kingdom was doomed by a dragon's wrath.” (A classic, dramatic example of predetermined fate.)

Important Note: "Doomed" is a strong word. Don't overuse it. Reserve it for situations and characters where there's a genuine sense of inescapable, tragic fate.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to write/say? (e.g., a story, an essay, a poem?)
  • What is the context of the word you're considering using? (e.g., a specific situation, a character's feelings?)

Synonyms for the word doomed

Practice with vocabulary doomed

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Without a clear strategy and sufficient resources, the entire initiative was likely ____ to fail.
  2. When the key witness unexpectedly refused to testify, the prosecution knew their case was ____.
  3. From an early age, she seemed ____ for a career in classical music, showing remarkable talent.
  4. The new regulations will significantly ____ how businesses operate in the next quarter.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The financial analyst warned that without drastic changes, the company's long-term viability was: A) guaranteed B) assured C) doomed D) predetermined E) jeopardized

  2. From the outset, many experts believed the ambitious space mission was ____ due to its experimental technology and limited budget. A) fated to succeed B) destined for greatness C) doomed to fail D) certain to triumph E) bound for disaster

  3. After the critical component failed during testing, the engineering team felt the entire prototype was ____. A) salvaged B) imperiled C) validated D) doomed E) compromised

  4. Despite the initial setbacks, her groundbreaking research was widely considered ____ to revolutionize the field of medicine. A) bound to fail B) destined C) fated to triumph D) hopeless E) assured to flounder

  5. The new trade policy will likely have a significant ____ on global supply chains. A) affect B) effect C) affectation D) effective E) influencing

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence to include the word "doomed":

    • Many experts predicted that the company would inevitably fail if it continued with its outdated business model.

  2. Rewrite the sentence to include the word "doomed" or a related form:

    • From the moment the primary server crashed, it felt as though the entire data recovery operation was destined for disaster.

  3. Rewrite the sentence to replace "doomed" (if it were present) with a suitable alternative word, while maintaining the original meaning or tone:

    • The project managers were certain that their innovative approach would lead to success despite the limited budget.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. doomed
  2. doomed
  3. destined
  4. impact

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. C) doomed, E) jeopardized
  2. C) doomed to fail, E) bound for disaster
  3. D) doomed, B) imperiled
  4. B) destined, C) fated to triumph
  5. B) effect

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. If the company continued with its outdated business model, many experts predicted it was doomed to fail.
  2. From the moment the primary server crashed, the entire data recovery operation felt doomed.
  3. The project managers were confident that their innovative approach was bound to succeed despite the limited budget.

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