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 of fateful

• disastrous
• fatal
• unfortunate
• catastrophic

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

On the fateful play, Moore appeared to turn his head, which is allowed. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Pinpointing the possible sites where Teghaza was launched by a giant impact on its fateful journey to Earth is a feat all its own, but the meteorite’s chemical composition shows something even more enlightening. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026

District 210’s problems began with a fateful decision in the mid-2000s by Wyllie and the district to build two new high schools under the presumption of a population boom. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Dashcam followed in 2021, about an obnoxious content creator on a fateful and terrifying drive, as well as 2023 Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026

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