play God
Decide others' destinies
Play God means to act as if one has divine authority over life, death, or fate—making decisions that seem to exceed human prerogative.
The phrase usually carries disapproval, suggesting arrogance or overreach: Critics say genetic engineers are playing God.
Doctors face accusations of playing God when making life-or-death choices.
The expression implies humans trespassing on territory that belongs to higher powers or nature.
Unlimited universal power
- almightyHaving complete power
- supremeHighest in authority
- sovereignSupreme in power
- absoluteTotal, without qualification
all-powerful · unlimited · transcendent · divine authority · life and death · final say · totalitarian · authoritarian
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- consequenceResult of an action
autonomy · consent · accountability · forbidden knowledge · slippery slope · unintended consequences · precautionary principle · sanctity of life
Excessive self-importance
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- prideSatisfaction from one's achievements
vanity · egotism · conceit · self-importance · pomposity · smugness · narcissism · superiority
Point of creation
- creatorOne who produces something
- lifeAnimate state
- originStarting point or source
- designPurposeful creative planning
biogenesis · invention · conception · fabrication · artificial intelligence · bring to life · resurrect · reanimate
Control through clever influence
- dictateGive orders imperiously
- dominateControl through superior strength
- meddleInterfere without invitation
- interfereObstruct or meddle uninvited
tamper · impose · coerce · orchestrate · engineer · mastermind · puppet master · micromanage
omnipotence
Unlimited universal power
absolute · all-powerful · unlimited · transcendent · divine authority · life and death · final say · totalitarian · authoritarian · despotic
bioethics
Moral philosophy for medicine
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- responsibilityState of being answerable
consequence · autonomy · consent · accountability · forbidden knowledge · slippery slope · unintended consequences · precautionary principle · sanctity of life · natural order
arrogance
Excessive self-importance
- presumptionBelief held without proof
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
pride · vanity · egotism · conceit · self-importance · pomposity · smugness · narcissism · superiority · megalomania
genesis
Point of creation
design · biogenesis · invention · conception · fabrication · artificial intelligence · bring to life · resurrect · reanimate · world-building
manipulate
Control through clever influence
- dictateGive orders imperiously
- dominateControl through superior strength
- meddleInterfere without invitation
interfere · tamper · impose · coerce · orchestrate · engineer · mastermind · puppet master · micromanage · regulate
play Godlet go
Cease holding something
go with the flow · submit · surrender · let nature take its course · yield
play Godlet nature take its course
Allow events to proceed unmanipulated
stand aside · leave well enough alone · trust the process · watchful waiting · step back
play, God, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully