ill-fated

adjective

ill-fat·​ed ˈil-ˈfā-təd How to pronounce ill-fated (audio)
1
: having or destined to a hapless fate : unfortunate
an ill-fated expedition
2
: that causes or marks the beginning of misfortune

Examples of ill-fated in a Sentence

the ill-fated trip ended in disaster for all
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.
British broadcasters rarely adapt successful U.S. network shows and previous attempts have been ill-fated. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024 When the runners bolted on Profar’s fly out to right, Mike Yastrzemski made an aggressive and ill-fated attempt to nab the lead runner at third. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2024 Her campaign in 2019 was a transparent and ill-fated attempt to co-opt the Bernie Sanders wing of the party rather than offer something new. Jay Cost, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Aug. 2024 The changes are a departure from the solo anchor format that has been a standard feature of CBS Evening News throughout its history, save for a brief and ill-fated effort to pair Connie Chung with Dan Rather in the 1990s. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2024 The platform underscores how DeSantis has helped mold modern Republican ideology, despite GOP voters’ rejection of his bitter and ill-fated primary challenge of Trump. Max Greenwood, Miami Herald, 17 July 2024 Even hiking the prices on the popular but ill-fated promotion couldn’t bandage the wound. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 21 May 2024 Their journey might seem ill-fated, though a slim possibility of finding the treasure always remains. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 Even in California’s Central Valley, there are reports of growing enthusiasm that what has been an ill-fated, wildly over budget high-speed rail project might actually come to fruition in six years. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ill-fated was in 1710

Dictionary Entries Near ill-fated

Cite this Entry

“Ill-fated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-fated. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ill-fated

adjective
ill-fat·​ed
ˈil-ˈfāt-əd
: doomed to disaster
an ill-fated expedition

More from Merriam-Webster on ill-fated

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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