fateful

adjective

ˈfāt-fəl How to pronounce fateful (audio)
Definition of fatefulnext
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune a fateful encounter with a confidence man that they would long regret

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fateful differ from other similar words?

The words ominous and portentous are common synonyms of fateful. While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

Where would ominous be a reasonable alternative to fateful?

Although the words ominous and fateful have much in common, ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

When is it sensible to use portentous instead of fateful?

While the synonyms portentous and fateful are close in meaning, portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fateful That fateful day led to the largest single-day loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust — and it is viewed as the deadliest day in Israel’s history. — Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026 Kao’s desire to donate even more money led to the fateful Corner Bakery meeting with the head of the Collins super PAC, called the 1820 PAC, Kao told the FBI. — William Turton, ProPublica, 22 Sep. 2026 In that fateful moment, when his phone rang, when DeWalt had to pause his video game, his nerves redlined. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 19 Sep. 2026 What was said between Yash, Melody, and Taylor before his fateful renom? — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
  1. disastrous
  2. fatal
  3. unfortunate
  4. catastrophic
Adjective
  • The designer had felt the atmosphere shift after her disastrous outdoor cruise collection in Marseille in May 2024, which was marred by a mini-storm.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • European leaders and oil executives at the time said that such a ban would be disastrous for long-term oil flow.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Independent media outlets like Baikal People reported that the fatal chain of events began on September 25.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris said at Sunday's community vigil that the suspect had allegedly gotten into an altercation with staff at a wireless store in the Chatham neighborhood just before the fatal stabbing, WLS reported.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • These unfortunate souls were supposed to stay in their birthplace, hoping church charity would sustain them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Artistic but flighty, Deborah ends up at her parents’ alma mater when an unfortunate incident gets her NYU Tisch School of the Arts acceptance rescinded.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Writers in ancient Mesopotamia told several versions of a story in which the gods send a catastrophic flood but warn one man, who then builds a large boat to save his family and animals.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The film stars Cruise as an aging oil tycoon whose drilling operations trigger a catastrophic climate change disaster.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

fated
fateful
fates
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Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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