fateful
adjective
fate·ful ˈfāt-fəl 
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
: deadly, catastrophic
3
: controlled by fate : foreordained
fatefully
ˈfāt-fə-lē
adverb fatefulness noun
Synonyms
- calamitous
- cataclysmal
- cataclysmic
- catastrophic
- damning
- destructive
- disastrous
- fatal
- ruinous
- unfortunate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Near the concert's end, Sanborn took a moment to take in his blessings, reflecting on working at the club and giving a shout-out to the person who booked that fateful show with Meath in 2010. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2022 One of the biggest financial windfalls came because of fateful timing related to bonds for the project. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 Five years and a day removed from that fateful debut, Blackman begins his sixth and final season of college football at Arkansas State. Mitchell Gladstone, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2022 In this amiable, if unnecessarily manipulative, movie about the human-animal bond — as well as the different forms resilience can take — that fateful second leap will lead the young man and the monkey to each other. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Star Wars show Andor begins five years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, following Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) before his fateful mission to steal the Death Star plans. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 1 Sep. 2022 One fateful Craigslist ad-posting ago, front singer-shouter Letty Martínez linked up with the founding members of Fea, and from that point and on, the four-piece has been wreaking havoc in San Antonino and beyond. Isabela Raygoza, refinery29.com, 1 Sep. 2022 The half-elven politician Elrond (Robert Aramayo), who will one day assemble the fateful fellowship of the ring to challenge Sauron, appears here as a young idealist. David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Aug. 2022 Shreeve received the fateful call about her uncle on July 13. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2022 One of the biggest financial windfalls came because of fateful timing related to bonds for the project. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 Five years and a day removed from that fateful debut, Blackman begins his sixth and final season of college football at Arkansas State. Mitchell Gladstone, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2022 In this amiable, if unnecessarily manipulative, movie about the human-animal bond — as well as the different forms resilience can take — that fateful second leap will lead the young man and the monkey to each other. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Star Wars show Andor begins five years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, following Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) before his fateful mission to steal the Death Star plans. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 1 Sep. 2022 One fateful Craigslist ad-posting ago, front singer-shouter Letty Martínez linked up with the founding members of Fea, and from that point and on, the four-piece has been wreaking havoc in San Antonino and beyond. Isabela Raygoza, refinery29.com, 1 Sep. 2022 The half-elven politician Elrond (Robert Aramayo), who will one day assemble the fateful fellowship of the ring to challenge Sauron, appears here as a young idealist. David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Aug. 2022 Shreeve received the fateful call about her uncle on July 13. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
circa 1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
fateful
adjective
fate·ful ˈfāt-fəl
: having serious results
a fateful decision
fateful
adjective
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune a fateful encounter with a confidence man that they would long regret Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disastrous
- fatal
- unfortunate
- catastrophic
- calamitous
- cataclysmic
- damning
- ruinous
- destructive
- ill-fated
- apocalyptic
- cataclysmal
- luckless
- apocalyptical
- adverse
- ill-starred
- hapless
- pernicious
- damaging
- baneful
- injurious
- deleterious
- detrimental
- harmful
- evil
- hurtful
- baleful
- prejudicial
- noxious
- ill
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fortuitous
- providential
- fortunate
- lucky
- happy
- auspicious
- flukey
- fluky
- golden
- propitious
- promising
- hopeful
- fair
- bright
- optimistic
- rosy
- encouraging
- heartening
- upbeat
- rose-colored
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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