ill-fated

adjective

ill-fat·​ed ˈil-ˈfā-təd How to pronounce ill-fated (audio)
Synonyms of ill-fatednext
1
: having or destined to a hapless fate : unfortunate
an ill-fated expedition
2
: that causes or marks the beginning of misfortune
that ill-fated decision

Synonyms of ill-fated

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Examples of ill-fated in a Sentence

the ill-fated trip ended in disaster for all
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.
That plan proved ill-fated, however, when he got caught trying to bribe a city official. — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 July 2025 Despite the glamour of the celebration, the union of course was ill-fated. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026 What the Pentagon Papers revealed is that the American government had reason to know all along that the venture was ill-fated. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 So, where will Season 2 take us, Mayor Tom Loftis, and the rest of this wonderfully funny and spectacularly ill-fated island community? — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ill-fated

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ill-fated was in 1710

Rhymes for ill-fated

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Browse Nearby Words

ill-faring
ill-fated
ill-favored
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Cite this Entry

“Ill-fated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill-fated. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ill-fated

adjective
ill-fat·​ed
ˈil-ˈfāt-əd
: doomed to disaster
an ill-fated expedition

More from Merriam-Webster on ill-fated

Nglish: Translation of ill-fated for Spanish Speakers

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