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 Six days after spinning eight scoreless frames against the Boston Red Sox, rookie sensation Cam Schlittler will go for the Yankees, while the Blue Jays will go with a bullpen game started by Louis Varland — the same pitcher who allowed that fateful home run to Judge. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Castellanos played a single into a double in the fateful four-run seventh inning because even 36-year-old Freddie Freeman knows to take the extra base on Castellanos. Matt Gelb, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 The ship remained stuck there for nearly eight months, until the fateful day when the pressure from the ice crushed it like a beer can in a hydraulic vice. Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025 The year after their fateful encounter, Held also began writing a weekly romance-recommendation newsletter that now has more than 9,000 subscribers. Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
Adjective
  • Having Bregman was and is still important, but losing Devers for a disastrous package of four players (with one prospect, James Tibbs III, already traded in a separate deadline deal) cannot be followed up by then letting Bregman walk in the winter.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Gase was fired after a disastrous 2020 season.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The illness is rarely fatal, and most patients recover within a week, though some may experience persistent joint pain, authorities continued.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Early intervention While uterine cancer can be fatal, an early diagnosis means potentially faster treatment and better outcomes.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As Yassir Zabiri flung his boot in the air, the ball bounced off the unfortunate Joshua Wynder and into his own net.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Tight end Orande Gadsden had a very unfortunate early fumble, resulting in a long touchdown run.
    Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Mineral wealth such as gold offers one solution—though diverting labor and resources from more sustainable industries could prove catastrophic if prices suddenly drop.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
  • This event might have been quick and catastrophic, causing a misalignment of the protoplanetary disk with the star.
    Paul Sutter, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fateful

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