fatalism
noun
fa·tal·ism
ˈfā-tə-ˌli-zəm 
: a doctrine that events are fixed in advance so that human beings are powerless to change them
also
: a belief in or attitude determined by this doctrine
fatalism that regards social problems as simply inevitable
Examples of fatalism in a Sentence
Many people seem to have developed a sense of fatalism about the war.
Recent Examples on the Web
More broadly, austerity has contributed to an atmosphere of fatalism, an aversion to thinking about the future.
—
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Then, in an arrestingly strange coda, the director himself steps forth and, with a sad fatalism that Francis Parkman might have appreciated, brings the saga to its close.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023
The answer will vary from viewer to viewer, but to these eyes Villeneuve enters into what could have been toxic with a conscious, scene-by-scene sense of fatalism, Chalamet stirring his character’s rise with notes of rage, guilt, unhappiness and imposter syndrome.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
The finale ends on a bleak note, which is in keeping with the comedy’s undercurrent of fatalism.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2024
Boyle brings sly humor and a weary fatalism to Bruckman, and his cryptic insights into the agents' final confrontation with the killer raise questions about free will and determinism.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2023
This counteracts what’s known as climate change fatalism.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2023
Those advisers paint a portrait of a disillusioned presidential candidacy, marked by finger-pointing, fatalism and grand plans designed in a Tallahassee hotel in early spring gone awry by winter.
—Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2023
There’s also a sense of fatalism about the disease, which also prevents many people from getting screened.
—Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2023
Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Then, in an arrestingly strange coda, the director himself steps forth and, with a sad fatalism that Francis Parkman might have appreciated, brings the saga to its close.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023
The answer will vary from viewer to viewer, but to these eyes Villeneuve enters into what could have been toxic with a conscious, scene-by-scene sense of fatalism, Chalamet stirring his character’s rise with notes of rage, guilt, unhappiness and imposter syndrome.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
The finale ends on a bleak note, which is in keeping with the comedy’s undercurrent of fatalism.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2024
Boyle brings sly humor and a weary fatalism to Bruckman, and his cryptic insights into the agents' final confrontation with the killer raise questions about free will and determinism.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2023
This counteracts what’s known as climate change fatalism.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2023
Those advisers paint a portrait of a disillusioned presidential candidacy, marked by finger-pointing, fatalism and grand plans designed in a Tallahassee hotel in early spring gone awry by winter.
—Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2023
There’s also a sense of fatalism about the disease, which also prevents many people from getting screened.
—Claretta Bellamy, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fatalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fatalism
Cite this Entry
“Fatalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatalism. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fatalism
noun
fa·tal·ism
ˈfāt-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm
: the belief or attitude that events are decided in advance by powers beyond one's control
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