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
fate·ful·ness
-fəlnə̇s
plural -es
: the quality or state of being fateful
unaware of the fatefulness of their meeting until it resulted in both their deaths
Examples of fateful in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
But 18 months later, the team was sold, and young role players Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were shipped off to Brooklyn in the fateful Durant trade.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
For The Times) Glauber’s work was enough to hold his team in the game, but USC still had a 3-2 lead heading to the fateful bottom of the ninth.
—Alan Cole, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Because of their heavy use, vacuums can have short lifespans and develop issues that go undetected until that fateful day when a powerful odor fills your home.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fateful
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Adjective
Among the most delightful episodes of English-language biography is Boswell’s account of an improbable dinner party in the fateful year of 1776 that was attended by the hyper-radical Wilkes and the reactionary Samuel Johnson, who became and stayed friends.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
But 18 months later, the team was sold, and young role players Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were shipped off to Brooklyn in the fateful Durant trade.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
For The Times) Glauber’s work was enough to hold his team in the game, but USC still had a 3-2 lead heading to the fateful bottom of the ninth.
—Alan Cole, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Because of their heavy use, vacuums can have short lifespans and develop issues that go undetected until that fateful day when a powerful odor fills your home.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fateful
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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