star-crossed lovers

Meaning

1. 1phraseplural

   Two lovers whose relationship is believed to be doomed by fate, family conflict, war, or circumstances they cannot control.

   Grammar: Plural fixed phrase; use 'the star-crossed lovers' for a specific pair.

   Patterns

   • the star-crossed lovers
   • play about star-crossed lovers
   • doomed like star-crossed lovers

   The novel presents two star-crossed lovers separated by a border and a family feud.

   Critics called them star-crossed lovers long before the final tragedy.

   Audiences still weep for the star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet.

Common combinations

tragic star-crossed lovers

The film turns the pair into tragic star-crossed lovers.

fate of the star-crossed lovers

From act one, we sense the fate of the star-crossed lovers.

play about star-crossed lovers

She wrote a modern play about star-crossed lovers in rival hospitals.

Synonyms and how they differ

ill-fated lovers

Ill-fated lovers is less literary and simply means the relationship is unlucky or doomed.

doomed couple

Doomed couple is plainer and can fit any couple facing failure, not only fate-driven romance.

tragic lovers

Tragic lovers highlights sorrowful events without the astrological image of stars opposing them.

Word family

star-crossed adjective

Fated to fail, from the idea of the stars working against someone.

lover noun

A partner in a romantic relationship, especially in literary use.

Commonly confused: star-crossed lovers or crossed lovers? star-crossed lovers or starstruck?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “star-crossed lovers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words