Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fateful differ from other similar words?

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

Where would ominous be a reasonable alternative to fateful?

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

When is it sensible to use portentous instead of fateful?

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fateful Sixty years after that fateful ad, The Monkees phenomenon is still very much alive. Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 4 June 2025 Its only movie to date, a 2022 drama called The Wandering Moon, about a fateful friendship between a young man and a girl, got six nominations for the Japan Academy Film Prize, including for best actor and actress. James Simms, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025 Marseille’s Luis Henrique (a fateful name) is set to complete a move to Inter this week. James Horncastle, New York Times, 2 June 2025 Yang accompanied Rogers during that fateful interview on ABC's daytime program, where cohost Sunny Hostin brought up that the panelists were on the same flight as the actors while the group traveled out of the Bahamas, from which The View broadcast several of their summer episodes in 2022. Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fateful
Adjective
  • Though Rivera was strong on balance beam and floor, posting the highest mark on beam and the third-best on floor, a disastrous bar routine took the Olympian out of the gold medal race.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Both Israel and Iran have nuclear capabilities, which means that any escalation in fighting could have disastrous consequences for the international community.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Selling bitcoin volatility into a bull market could prove fatal.
    Alexander S. Blume, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Here's what to know about the rare, but often fatal, disease.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • An unfortunate series of events in the eighth inning led to the Brewers going up 3-1.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • The polished old pro bent time and space, keeping the unfortunate new work to a minimum and running through his hits, reliving, nearly chronologically, the thrill of experiencing his catalog all over again at a speed run.
    Abe Beame, Rolling Stone, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fateful. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fateful

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