1
: having a quality of ominous prophecy
a fateful remark
2
a
: involving momentous consequences : decisive
… made his fateful decision to declare war …—
W. L. Shirer
W. L. Shirer
b
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefulness
noun
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
Stark, having been elected governor and already well along in his fateful descent from an idealistic man of the people to an entirely corrupt megalomaniac, is on the way to visit his childhood home.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Naz Reid took the fateful elbow to the neck from a frustrated Wembanyama and finished with 15 points and nine rebounds to help the Timberwolves finish strong after some shaky stretches.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
However, on one fateful day — May 9, 2005 — the show aired what is by far the most memorable moment of its entire run.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Coming home one fateful night and filling out the Love Island application, having the producers chose me of all people, VOTING MYSELF OFF DAY ONE and getting the opportunity to come back, and having America keep me in that villa by any means necessary.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fateful
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Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Naz Reid took the fateful elbow to the neck from a frustrated Wembanyama and finished with 15 points and nine rebounds to help the Timberwolves finish strong after some shaky stretches.
—CBS News, 11 May 2026
However, on one fateful day — May 9, 2005 — the show aired what is by far the most memorable moment of its entire run.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Coming home one fateful night and filling out the Love Island application, having the producers chose me of all people, VOTING MYSELF OFF DAY ONE and getting the opportunity to come back, and having America keep me in that villa by any means necessary.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for fateful
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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