as in cynical
having or showing a belief that the future is determined and cannot be changed
His fatalistic outlook resulted in a lack of motivation to pursue a career.
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Recent Examples of fatalistic
When the voyeur and his subject begin physically to interact, there is low-key suspense, a hint of danger and a fatalistic romantic current fed by their growing mutual curiosity.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Feb. 2026
Known for his spare, unforgiving style and darkly comic fatalistic sensibility, along with his penchant for leather jackets, lots of smoking and a deadpan sense of humor, Tarr was a quintessential arthouse filmmaker.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
There was this kind of fatalistic view that there was not that much that could be done.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 18 Dec. 2025
Navarro is an expert at navigating the surreal, fatalistic way the captain thinks of herself.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Dreaming was a new pastime in a country long considered fatalistic.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Feb. 2026
Known for his spare, unforgiving style and darkly comic fatalistic sensibility, along with his penchant for leather jackets, lots of smoking and a deadpan sense of humor, Tarr was a quintessential arthouse filmmaker.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
There was this kind of fatalistic view that there was not that much that could be done.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 18 Dec. 2025
Navarro is an expert at navigating the surreal, fatalistic way the captain thinks of herself.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Dreaming was a new pastime in a country long considered fatalistic.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatalistic
Adjective
-
Valerie, having found her backbone, is ultimately replaced on her sitcom by an AI version of Valerie, which sounds cynical — except that Valerie ends up getting a presumably far better job as the star of Stevens’ new series, Judge’s Table, about a judge who leaves the law to become a chef.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
-
Continue reading … SPACED OUT — Joe Rogan suggests upcoming UFO disclosure is cynical distraction from war in Iran.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
However, Chloe later admitted that, despite their best efforts, her parents’ divorce — and the rumors and publicity surrounding it — did have a negative effect on her.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
-
So none of the negative press circling around him manifested as a problem in your working relationship?—
Zak Cheney-Rice,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fatalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatalistic. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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