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
plural -s
: an adherent of fatalism
specifically
: one whose conduct is regulated by belief in fatalism
Examples of fatalism in a Sentence
Noun (1)
Many people seem to have developed a sense of fatalism about the war.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Weigel, semafor.com, 17 June 2026
This is neither nihilism nor fatalism.
—Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
Many of the letters narrate his thoughts that were a strange mixture of fatalism and optimism.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
But while most fans sank into a very understandable fatalism, there was one man who refused.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 5 May 2026
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Noun
There’s fatalism in both the left and the right about the way that our economy is designed today.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 17 June 2026
This is neither nihilism nor fatalism.
—Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
Many of the letters narrate his thoughts that were a strange mixture of fatalism and optimism.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
But while most fans sank into a very understandable fatalism, there was one man who refused.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatalism
Cite this Entry
“Fatalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatalism. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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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