fateful

adjective

fate·​ful ˈfāt-fəl 

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

b

: deadly, catastrophic

3

: controlled by fate : foreordained

fatefully

ˈfāt-fə-lē 

adverb

fatefulness noun

Synonyms

• calamitous
• cataclysmal
• cataclysmic
• catastrophic
• damning
• destructive
• disastrous
• fatal
• ruinous
• unfortunate

Choose the Right Synonym for fateful

ominous, portentous, fateful mean having a menacing or threatening aspect.

ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

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

Today, Jessica’s memory remains alive at the park where she was supposed to meet her friends that fateful day. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 3 May 2025

Needless to say, the witch schemes to reach Snow first, fateful apple in hand. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025

The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star has previously shared the events that went down on that fateful night. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 2 May 2025

The Colbert teens perished alongside their father, James Colbert, who as vice president for academic affairs at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston had often taken Eastern 212 for business but on this fateful day was accompanying his sons to their school in Connecticut. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fateful

• ungrateful
• grateful
• hateful

Kids Definition

fateful

adjective

fate·​ful ˈfāt-fəl 

1

: foretelling usually bad things to come

a fateful remark

2

: having serious results : important

a fateful decision

fatefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

fatefulness noun