fatally

adverb

fa·​tal·​ly ˈfā-tᵊl-ē How to pronounce fatally (audio)
1
: in a way determined by fate
2
: in a manner suggesting fate or an act of fate: such as
a
: in a manner resulting in death : mortally
fatally wounded
b
: beyond repair : irrevocably
c
: in a manner resulting in ruin or evil
it is fatally easy to pass off our prejudices as our opinionsW. F. Hambly
d
: in a manner that cannot be easily resisted
thinks she is fatally attractiveJ. W. Krutch

Examples of fatally in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Police fatally shot a homicide suspect during a confrontation on the Newport Beach Pier early Saturday after a high-speed chase that began in Santa Ana, authorities said. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025 Tarrant County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man who was armed with a knife during an altercation as the deputies tried to serve a warrant Friday afternoon in Haltom City, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025 Indiana man Matthew Huttle was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop Sunday, just days after the 42-year-old was pardoned by the president. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025 The basic facts of these assassinations are unlikely to change: Lee Harvey Oswald fatally shot JFK; Sirhan Sirhan fatally shot Robert F. Kennedy; and James Earl Ray fatally shot MLK. Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fatally 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fatally was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near fatally

Cite this Entry

“Fatally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatally. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

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