fateful

adjective

fate·​ful ˈfāt-fəl How to pronounce fateful (audio)
Synonyms of fatefulnext
1
: having a quality of ominous prophecy
a fateful remark
2
a
: involving momentous consequences : decisive
… made his fateful decision to declare war …W. L. Shirer
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefully adverb
fatefulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for fateful

ominous, portentous, fateful mean having a menacing or threatening aspect.

ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

Examples of fateful in a Sentence

His life changed on that fateful November evening. Hundreds perished on that fateful day. Her campaign took a fateful turn.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But one fateful day in 2009 changed the course of her professional career. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026 Some analysts suggest that 2027 is the fateful year. Andy Browne, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026 In Creggers’ Resident Evil, Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in a nonstop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Apr. 2026 The planet continued on its fateful course. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fateful

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fateful was circa 1720

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Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

fateful

adjective
fate·​ful ˈfāt-fəl How to pronounce fateful (audio)
1
: foretelling usually bad things to come
a fateful remark
2
: having serious results : important
a fateful decision
fatefully adverb
fatefulness noun

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