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
W. L. Shirer
b
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefulness
noun
Synonyms
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
One of those cofounders, Jensen Huang, a former Denny’s busboy and Nvidia’s chief executive since that fateful day, is now one of the 10 richest people in the world, with a $127 billion net worth, according to Forbes’ estimates.
—Derek Saul, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
When the prince shows up with the fateful slipper, Aschenputtel’s stepsisters slash at their heels to make their feet fit.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Their lone trip this decade was in 2021, a 20-13 loss to Wisconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl, their last post-season appearance under Herm Edwards before a fateful off-season that would doom the program.
—Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
What triggered all these events was one fateful decision: After their son came out, the McDonalds went into their own closet.
—John Blake, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fateful 
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Derek Saul, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
When the prince shows up with the fateful slipper, Aschenputtel’s stepsisters slash at their heels to make their feet fit.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Their lone trip this decade was in 2021, a 20-13 loss to Wisconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl, their last post-season appearance under Herm Edwards before a fateful off-season that would doom the program.
—Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
What triggered all these events was one fateful decision: After their son came out, the McDonalds went into their own closet.
—John Blake, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fateful
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Dictionary Entries Near fateful
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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