as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a fateful encounter with a confidence man that they would long regret
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fateful
Castellanos played a single into a double in the fateful four-run seventh inning because even 36-year-old Freddie Freeman knows to take the extra base on Castellanos.
—
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The ship remained stuck there for nearly eight months, until the fateful day when the pressure from the ice crushed it like a beer can in a hydraulic vice.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
The year after their fateful encounter, Held also began writing a weekly romance-recommendation newsletter that now has more than 9,000 subscribers.
—Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
In this scene, the Italian leaves Knox’s lips far easier than those fateful days in the police station, and in the midst of a tense life, the show turns wistfully romantic one last time.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fateful
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The ship remained stuck there for nearly eight months, until the fateful day when the pressure from the ice crushed it like a beer can in a hydraulic vice.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 7 Oct. 2025
The year after their fateful encounter, Held also began writing a weekly romance-recommendation newsletter that now has more than 9,000 subscribers.
—Rebecca Ackermann, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2025
In this scene, the Italian leaves Knox’s lips far easier than those fateful days in the police station, and in the midst of a tense life, the show turns wistfully romantic one last time.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
Adjective
-
Any such move before elections would likely be disastrous for Milei.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Finally, as ever, the potential for rash, impulsive decisions with disastrous long-term consequences is never out of mind with this franchise.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But unleash the foley artists (sound designers), and the flora's dripping slime and ominous pulsing are infinitely more threatening, as a soldier learns to fatal cost later in the season.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
-
There were 55 students on the school bus when the fatal crash occurred, none of whom were injured, police said.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To lose Livramento and Hall at the same time is unfortunate and has left Newcastle stretched down the defensive flanks, but letting Targett go was the right decision.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The track record in Jacksonville is a series of unfortunate events, and that hasn’t been because of the record.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The exec expressed remarkably few regrets over a chapter that was, by any measure, catastrophic for the bank and the women Epstein victimized.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
When Gray has missed time, the results without him have been catastrophic against Miami and Texas A&M.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share