1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
I made the fatal mistake of sharing my secret with the office's biggest blabbermouth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
that snake's venom is fatal unless the victim is given the antidote almost immediately
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fatal
Upon entering a second-floor bedroom, police found Christine naked except for her socks, bleeding from fatal stab wounds to the neck.
—
Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
On June 2, federal authorities charged 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews of Decatur with committing an act of violence using a dangerous weapon with the intent to cause death on a mass transportation system in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old grandmother aboard a MARTA train.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The fatal shooting marks the 12th homicide in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2026, compared to nine at this time last year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Police on Tuesday released the name of the victim and a suspect in a fatal shooting a day earlier in North Little Rock.
—Arkansas Online, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Alyssa Modos, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
On June 2, federal authorities charged 25-year-old John Elijah Matthews of Decatur with committing an act of violence using a dangerous weapon with the intent to cause death on a mass transportation system in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 66-year-old grandmother aboard a MARTA train.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The fatal shooting marks the 12th homicide in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2026, compared to nine at this time last year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026
Police on Tuesday released the name of the victim and a suspect in a fatal shooting a day earlier in North Little Rock.
—Arkansas Online, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
Adjective
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This study marks the first to use that data to model climate as rising temperatures are expected to fuel more disastrous events, from marine heat waves that kill coral to droughts.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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The next two decades were mostly disastrous.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Three Lions are led by the most lethal striker in the game Harry Kane.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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Idaho has not executed a prisoner in 14 years, last carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection in June 2012.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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For patients weighing the long-term implications of starting, stopping or cycling on and off these medications, the review suggests the metabolic stakes of regain may be less catastrophic than feared.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Kenneth Bass is one of thousands of residents and business owners suing the city of Los Angeles and other entities over property loss and other damages suffered during the catastrophic Palisades fire.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Other fatal skydiving crashes in Missouri Sunday’s crash was at least the fourth deadly skydiving incident in Missouri since 1998.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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Dennis Jacobs, the airport manager and director of Bates County Emergency Management, previously told USA TODAY that the incident was the deadliest crash in the airport's roughly 50-year history.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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So that was just an unfortunate situation, but everything’s OK.—
Zach Dean,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Getting into a dispute with your neighbor is an unfortunate but all-too-common predicament for many homeowners.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatal. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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