1
: having a quality of ominous prophecy
a fateful remark
2
a
: involving momentous consequences : decisive
made his fateful decision to declare war—
W. L. Shirer
W. L. Shirer
b
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefulness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of fateful in a Sentence
His life changed on that fateful November evening.
Hundreds perished on that fateful day.
Her campaign took a fateful turn.
Recent Examples on the Web
As the trailer progresses, a glimpse into that fateful moment is provided.
—Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024
Someone’s front-door camera showed two men walking up the street on that fateful night and meeting a third at a truck, Rogers said.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023
In 2014, Anne Morse made a more serious attempt at imagining life for the Baileys after that fateful Christmas Eve.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 25 Dec. 2023
Based on the book trilogy of the same name, 3 Body Problem follows a group of brilliant young scientists in the present day as the laws of nature unravel before their eyes, following a young woman’s fateful decision years ago in 1960s China.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2023
Named after a vibrant market in Peckham, the movie tracks the fateful encounter of Yas (played with incredible verve by Vivian Oparah) and Dom (Industry’s David Jonsson in fine form), two people in their 20s recovering from harsh breakups.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2023
Two hundred and fifty years ago today, in the dark of night in Boston Harbor, 50 Americans crossed a fateful line.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023
The Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, discussed the fateful — and hilarious — trip with his brother Travis Kelce during this week’s episode of their New Heights podcast.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023
Upon his capture, authorities discovered something else: an 18-page handwritten diary with Ray's version of what happened that fateful day when Bledsoe was shot.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2023
See More
Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024
Someone’s front-door camera showed two men walking up the street on that fateful night and meeting a third at a truck, Rogers said.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023
In 2014, Anne Morse made a more serious attempt at imagining life for the Baileys after that fateful Christmas Eve.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 25 Dec. 2023
Based on the book trilogy of the same name, 3 Body Problem follows a group of brilliant young scientists in the present day as the laws of nature unravel before their eyes, following a young woman’s fateful decision years ago in 1960s China.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2023
Named after a vibrant market in Peckham, the movie tracks the fateful encounter of Yas (played with incredible verve by Vivian Oparah) and Dom (Industry’s David Jonsson in fine form), two people in their 20s recovering from harsh breakups.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2023
Two hundred and fifty years ago today, in the dark of night in Boston Harbor, 50 Americans crossed a fateful line.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023
The Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, discussed the fateful — and hilarious — trip with his brother Travis Kelce during this week’s episode of their New Heights podcast.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023
Upon his capture, authorities discovered something else: an 18-page handwritten diary with Ray's version of what happened that fateful day when Bledsoe was shot.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fateful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to fateful
Dictionary Entries Near fateful
Cite this Entry
“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fateful. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on fateful
Nglish: Translation of fateful for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fateful for Arabic Speakers
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