as in cynical
having or showing a belief that the future is determined and cannot be changed
His fatalistic outlook resulted in a lack of motivation to pursue a career.
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Recent Examples of fatalistic
When the voyeur and his subject begin physically to interact, there is low-key suspense, a hint of danger and a fatalistic romantic current fed by their growing mutual curiosity.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Feb. 2026
Known for his spare, unforgiving style and darkly comic fatalistic sensibility, along with his penchant for leather jackets, lots of smoking and a deadpan sense of humor, Tarr was a quintessential arthouse filmmaker.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
There was this kind of fatalistic view that there was not that much that could be done.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 18 Dec. 2025
Navarro is an expert at navigating the surreal, fatalistic way the captain thinks of herself.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Dreaming was a new pastime in a country long considered fatalistic.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026
Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026
Most people have a very fatalistic view of their age.
—Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Feb. 2026
Known for his spare, unforgiving style and darkly comic fatalistic sensibility, along with his penchant for leather jackets, lots of smoking and a deadpan sense of humor, Tarr was a quintessential arthouse filmmaker.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
There was this kind of fatalistic view that there was not that much that could be done.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 18 Dec. 2025
Navarro is an expert at navigating the surreal, fatalistic way the captain thinks of herself.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Dreaming was a new pastime in a country long considered fatalistic.
—Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatalistic
Adjective
-
Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
In season three, this argument has largely taken a cynical, nihilistic turn.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Robertson’s work is precisely about the negative space around authorship.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
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Asia-Pacific equities are in the red, led lower by Japan's Nikkei 225 and South Korea's Kospi, while European futures are pointing to a negative open.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fatalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatalistic. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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