Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fateful differ from other similar words?

The words ominous and portentous are common synonyms of fateful. While all three words mean "having a menacing or threatening aspect," fateful suggests being of momentous or decisive importance.

the fateful conference that led to war

Where would ominous be a reasonable alternative to fateful?

Although the words ominous and fateful have much in common, ominous implies having a menacing, alarming character foreshadowing evil or disaster.

ominous rumblings from the volcano

When is it sensible to use portentous instead of fateful?

While the synonyms portentous and fateful are close in meaning, portentous suggests being frighteningly big or impressive but now seldom definitely connotes forewarning of calamity.

an eerie and portentous stillness

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 Even before the sun set on that fateful day, Central Floridians were building their own monuments, written in flowers, candles, prayers and tears. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025 Nearly two weeks have passed since Jared Isaacman received a fateful, brief phone call from two officials in President Trump's Office of Personnel Management. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025 On that fateful day in May 2024, 30 maternal-fetal and neonatology experts were present to carry out the quadruplets’ emergency cesarean delivery. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 12 June 2025 Simon was invited to the fateful lunch but declined the invitation the night before. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
Adjective
  • Skipping this governance checkpoint essentially means letting people create powerful and untested tools for decision making, which could be disastrous to an organization’s future success.
    Larry English, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Trading away Jokic would be disastrous, and the thought of it is just as bad.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • The United States has struck a crippling, but not fatal blow at Iran’s nuclear weapons aspirations.
    Brett Schaefer, National Review, 23 June 2025
  • And the mid-Atlantic recently saw its first fatal case of Heartland Virus.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Shakira does appear to be the beneficiary of an unintended consequence stemming from her unfortunate moves.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • The stern instructor displays a remarkable amount of patience as the student bashes the unfortunate victim against every solid surface in sight — even alien beings capable of traversing the cosmos can have bad days at the office.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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