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
W. L. Shirer
b
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefulness
noun
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
With Bush out of town on that fateful day, Cheney was a steady presence in the White House, at least until Secret Service agents lifted him off his feet and carried him away, in a scene the vice president later described to comical effect.
—Calvin Woodward, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Since that fateful day in May 2023, Truwit’s journey has been remarkable and inspirational.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Siddiqui and Kripalani recall their fateful first interaction and go on to talk about the video calls during the pandemic that first inspired the script for I’m Not An Actor.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
After splitting the first two games of the Fall Classic in Toronto, an 18-inning Game 3 went to the Dodgers in thrilling walk-off fashion, but since that fateful Freddie Freeman swing, the Dodgers have been outscored, 12-3, in the next two games.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fateful
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Calvin Woodward, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Since that fateful day in May 2023, Truwit’s journey has been remarkable and inspirational.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Siddiqui and Kripalani recall their fateful first interaction and go on to talk about the video calls during the pandemic that first inspired the script for I’m Not An Actor.
—Sara Merican, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
After splitting the first two games of the Fall Classic in Toronto, an 18-inning Game 3 went to the Dodgers in thrilling walk-off fashion, but since that fateful Freddie Freeman swing, the Dodgers have been outscored, 12-3, in the next two games.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fateful
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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