* Literary: "Their love was star-crossed, doomed from the start by their warring families." (This is a classic use, referencing Romeo and Juliet)
* Figurative: "The star-crossed lovers met at a party, only to find out they were both engaged to other people."
* Simple: "Despite their best efforts, the star-crossed team lost the championship."
The key to using "star-crossed" effectively is to convey a sense of fate or destiny, often with a hint of tragedy.