Synonyms of fatal

fatal

adjective

ˈfā-tᵊl 

1

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune

I made the fatal mistake of sharing my secret with the office's biggest blabbermouth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disastrous
• catastrophic
• unfortunate
• cataclysmic
• destructive
• fateful
• ruinous
• calamitous
• damning
• damaging
• adverse
• apocalyptic
• harmful
• cataclysmal
• detrimental
• injurious
• pernicious
• deleterious
• apocalyptical
• luckless
• hapless
• baneful
• evil
• prejudicial
• ill-fated
• hurtful
• ill-starred
• noxious
• ill
• baleful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fortuitous
• lucky
• fortunate
• happy
• providential
• fluky
• fair
• promising
• flukey
• golden
• optimistic
• propitious
• bright
• hopeful
• encouraging
• rosy
• auspicious
• heartening
• upbeat
• rose-colored

2

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death

that snake's venom is fatal unless the victim is given the antidote almost immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lethal
• deadly
• poisonous
• infectious
• infective
• killer
• harmful
• terminal
• dangerous
• toxic
• deathly
• mortal
• murderous
• baleful
• injurious
• fell
• destructive
• hazardous
• pernicious
• vital
• deleterious
• pestilent
• serious
• baneful
• virulent
• risky
• perilous
• sublethal
• noxious
• pestilential
• threatening
• ugly
• bloody
• truculent
• grievous
• menacing
• sanguinary
• unhealthy
• grave
• parlous
• unsound
• jeopardizing
• sanguine
• internecine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonfatal
• healthy
• beneficial
• healthful
• nonlethal
• wholesome
• salutary
• corrective
• salubrious
• remedial
• restorative
• curative
• useful
• advantageous
• tonic
• safe
• nontoxic
• alleviative
• nonpoisonous

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fatal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fatal are deadly, lethal, and mortal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

When is it sensible to use deadly instead of fatal?

While the synonyms deadly and fatal are close in meaning, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When would lethal be a good substitute for fatal?

The meanings of lethal and fatal largely overlap; however, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

When might mortal be a better fit than fatal?

The synonyms mortal and fatal are sometimes interchangeable, but mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fatal

The collision that killed Xiong was one of 32 fatal crashes The Sacramento Bee covered in 2024. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 17 Mar. 2025

The potentially fatal disease is transmitted through rodent feces. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025

Read has pleaded not guilty and a trial on the charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025

The sheriff's office said Tuesday that the company that provides natural gas service for the home made no significant findings after looking for gas leaks and carbon monoxide, the colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal by depriving people from getting enough oxygen. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025