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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fatal
Homan’s meeting was in response to the controversy surrounding the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.
—
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 Jan. 2026
At least 32 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.
—Russ Bynum, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Senate Republicans plan to vote on a government funding package as soon as Thursday, shrugging off Democrats’ vows to filibuster the legislation unless DHS funding is removed and amended after two fatal Minnesota shootings.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Uber sold off its self-driving business in 2020 after a fatal collision.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 28 Jan. 2026
At least 32 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.
—Russ Bynum, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Senate Republicans plan to vote on a government funding package as soon as Thursday, shrugging off Democrats’ vows to filibuster the legislation unless DHS funding is removed and amended after two fatal Minnesota shootings.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Uber sold off its self-driving business in 2020 after a fatal collision.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
Adjective
-
The Chargers’ $262 million man fell to 0-3 in the playoffs, each of those defeats distinctly disastrous.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
Dan Gelston,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thompson’s original death sentence was later overturned, but a jury again sentenced him to die by lethal injection following a new punishment trial in November 2005.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Thompson, 55, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Forecasters warn the weather system could bring catastrophic damage, widespread power outages and bitterly cold weather.—
John Raby,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
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Abbott says Texas power grid shouldn't fail Abbott and officials from the PUC and ERCOT all spoke about what the state has done since the catastrophic winter storm in 2021, when more than 200 people died amid widespread power outages that lasted for days in parts of the state.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The January 29, 2025, collision was the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the United States in the last 16 years.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In retrospect, the right move, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, even with the unfortunate scheduling outcome.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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But Bloom’s legacy has had the unfortunate effect of making even more reasonable canon defenses look reactionary.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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