fateful

adjective

fate·​ful ˈfāt-fəl How to pronounce fateful (audio)
1
: having a quality of ominous prophecy
a fateful remark
2
a
: involving momentous consequences : decisive
made his fateful decision to declare warW. 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Advertisement In the poignant scene about her mom, Gunvalson collapsed on the floor and devolved into screams upon getting the fateful phone call. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 Westfield and Clarke intend on staying friends, already making plans to barbecue in the driveway where the fateful encounter occurred. Emma Tucker, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024 Alma implored rescuers to save her father, mother and five siblings after their home was hit by an Israeli strike, her voice barely perceptible in the haunting video captured on that fateful day. NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024 That fateful day changed the Middle East forevermore, with the ramifications still playing out, culminating last week in Iran launching nearly 200 ballistic missiles in Israel’s direction. Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near fateful

Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fateful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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