as in theory
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Recent Examples of predetermination
The presiding judge granted Sweeney's attorney's request to change the charge to second-degree murder or manslaughter as the court lacked sufficient evidence to try him for first-degree murder since predetermination was not established.
—
Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
He was also accused of failing to respect and comply with the law by denying due process to litigants and lawyers and demonstrating a bias or predetermination for certain cases.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
From there we’re introduced to the Time Variance Authority where Loki is taken for messing with predetermination—a strict timeline set up by the powerful and mysterious Time Keepers—and introduced to Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 June 2021
Both seasons of The Umbrella Academy raise questions about the nature of time travel (as presented in the series) and the tension between choice and predetermination.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Aug. 2020
There is comfort in subsuming your sense of individuality to a larger sentiment of prescription and predetermination.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2019
Yet the movie has a mythic thrust that’s partly due to its almost playful manipulation of time, its silent flash-forwards lending the story a feeling of futility and predetermination.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2018
Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
He was also accused of failing to respect and comply with the law by denying due process to litigants and lawyers and demonstrating a bias or predetermination for certain cases.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2025
From there we’re introduced to the Time Variance Authority where Loki is taken for messing with predetermination—a strict timeline set up by the powerful and mysterious Time Keepers—and introduced to Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 June 2021
Both seasons of The Umbrella Academy raise questions about the nature of time travel (as presented in the series) and the tension between choice and predetermination.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Aug. 2020
There is comfort in subsuming your sense of individuality to a larger sentiment of prescription and predetermination.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2019
Yet the movie has a mythic thrust that’s partly due to its almost playful manipulation of time, its silent flash-forwards lending the story a feeling of futility and predetermination.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for predetermination
Noun
-
Such theories were met with some skepticism by trade researchers at the time, and not all of the predictions have come true.—
Josh Ederington,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
As the search continues with no suspects or persons of interest, posts across Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook and YouTube have put millions of eyeballs on tips and theories surrounding her disappearance.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The maximalism and somewhat uncompromising presumption of a newspaper, with its warren of sections and columns and byways, is a quiet reproach to its audience’s most parochial instincts.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
If it is believed that a person has engaged in criminal behavior, this should be handled in a court of law with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some facts could begin to emerge around a situation that was mired in assumptions or unknown elements.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The team’s findings challenge long-standing assumptions about how vibrational images represent atomic motion, and offer a more accurate way to interpret data from high-resolution spectroscopic tools.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If multiple hypotheses do not explain the data equally well, then the one that explains the data more accurately and comprehensively is superior.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
-
If there are answers to these questions, or informed hypotheses, this biography does not provide them.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
To prove the full conjecture, the mathematicians had to get even better bounds on the sizes of the gradient’s pieces.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, 49ers general manager John Lynch has said the conjecture is worth looking into, though the NFL’s chief medical officer has downplayed the possibility that the substation in Santa Clara, California, could pose an injury risk.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While Singh’s lawyer Jitender Khurana denies any political motive for his client’s paroles, his previous releases coincided with crucial state elections, fueling speculation that his freedom is a reward for the Dera’s electoral support.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Wu’s order comes as speculation continues to swirl around the city that a surge of federal immigration officers is imminent.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, as the year progressed, my thesis had come to seem like a classic office job.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Catch up on any investment thesis for stocks that may trade near or below the average cost basis or most recent buy.—
,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Under California law, fraud must be pled with particularity, meaning there must be specifics and details in the complaint; generalizations, inferences and supposition don’t cut it.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The nature of Tech’s loss only supports the supposition that, without Texas and Oklahoma, the Big 12 is sorely lacking in top-tier talent.—
Kevin Sherrington
Jan. 1,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Predetermination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/predetermination. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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