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

The big problem to me in the Party, at that point, was fatalism. —David Remnick, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

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

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