Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fateful differ from other similar words?

The words ominous and portentous are common synonyms of fateful. While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

Where would ominous be a reasonable alternative to fateful?

Although the words ominous and fateful have much in common, ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

When is it sensible to use portentous instead of fateful?

While the synonyms portentous and fateful are close in meaning, portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fateful Cleveland’s Progressive Field, though, has turned into Skubal’s Waterloo, the site of the two most painful and most fateful moments of his career thus far. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025 And be sure to try naengmyeon, also seen during their fateful plane ride. Ali Wunderman, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 And that’s further than almost any other RSV vaccine has gotten since those fateful clinical trials six decades ago. Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025 Darren Rizzi sensed trouble just before the fateful snap against Indianapolis. Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
Adjective
  • Moulton’s Senate primary rationale, stated or otherwise, rests on the enduring public image of former President Joe Biden, who withdrew from his 2024 reelection bid after a disastrous debate against Trump revealed limitations of being in office at age 82 and beyond.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
  • No one has been sent home or saved because of a disastrous technical.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But unleash the foley artists (sound designers), and the flora's dripping slime and ominous pulsing are infinitely more threatening, as a soldier learns to fatal cost later in the season.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • There were 55 students on the school bus when the fatal crash occurred, none of whom were injured, police said.
    Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To lose Livramento and Hall at the same time is unfortunate and has left Newcastle stretched down the defensive flanks, but letting Targett go was the right decision.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The track record in Jacksonville is a series of unfortunate events, and that hasn’t been because of the record.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The exec expressed remarkably few regrets over a chapter that was, by any measure, catastrophic for the bank and the women Epstein victimized.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • When Gray has missed time, the results without him have been catastrophic against Miami and Texas A&M.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fateful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!