fatalism

noun

fa·​tal·​ism ˈfā-tə-ˌli-zəm 

: a doctrine that events are fixed in advance so that human beings are powerless to change them

also : a belief in or attitude determined by this doctrine

fatalism that regards social problems as simply inevitable

fatalist

ˈfā-tə-list 

noun

fatalistic

ˌfā-tə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

fatalistically

ˌfā-tə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of fatalism in a Sentence

Many people seem to have developed a sense of fatalism about the war.

Recent Examples on the Web

But in 2025, the doomers are tilting closer and closer to a sort of fatalism. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025

Like his previous films, Jude’s 170-minute romp is loaded with trenchant political messages, sarcasm, bawdy humor and a heavy dose of Romanian fatalism. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025

Do marketers genuinely believe this level of ennui, fatalism and misery is good for business? —Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Filmed in snowy Vancouver and set to some of the most melancholy songs Leonard Cohen ever recorded, the film lets a sense of fatalism hang over even its lightest moments. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 18 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fatalism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

fatalism

noun

fa·​tal·​ism ˈfāt-ᵊl-ˌiz-əm 

: the belief or attitude that events are decided in advance by powers beyond one's control

fatalist

-əst 

noun

fatalistic

ˌfāt-ᵊl-ˈis-tik 

adjective

fatalistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb