1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
I made the fatal mistake of sharing my secret with the office's biggest blabbermouth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
that snake's venom is fatal unless the victim is given the antidote almost immediately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fatal
Without rapid treatment, heat stroke can cause permanent damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and other organs, and may be fatal.
—
Victoria Forster,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Rushdie survived a near-fatal stabbing at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York in August 2022.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 June 2026
The virus causes high fever, paralysis, vision loss and coma, and can be fatal.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
The third shooting and second fatal incident happened Friday on the 1200 block of West Hunting Park Avenue, police said.
—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Victoria Forster,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Rushdie survived a near-fatal stabbing at the Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York in August 2022.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 June 2026
The virus causes high fever, paralysis, vision loss and coma, and can be fatal.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
The third shooting and second fatal incident happened Friday on the 1200 block of West Hunting Park Avenue, police said.
—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
Adjective
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The last time Rushing caught Ohtani, the pitcher took over pitch-calling after a disastrous second inning against the Twins last week.
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Since his disastrous tenure with the New York Yankees from 2016 to 2022, which included a suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy, Chapman has worked to turn around his career.
Adjective
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The weather service also warns not to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, as car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
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At worst, the consequences can be lethal for mothers or babies.
Adjective
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On the narrow question of AI’s most catastrophic risks, the major powers are beginning to agree.
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Preexisting callus consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.
Adjective
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At the same time, vaccination rates have declined, worrying experts that more people could become vulnerable to this potentially deadly but preventable infection.
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The suspect, who has not yet been identified by police, was arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of 22-year-old Nasir Majied on Friday, June 5.
Adjective
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As attendees were escorted out of the Great American State Fair on Sunday because of inclement weather, guests noticed an unfortunate typo displayed on a digital billboard at the National Mall.
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They should be trained not to ask a bunch of questions about the medical condition, express doubt, comment that the timing is unfortunate or share private information with co-workers.
Cite this Entry
“Fatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatal. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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