as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
the ill-fated trip ended in disaster for all
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Recent Examples of ill-fated
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
The series, which retells the story of the glamorous and ill-fated relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, finally reached the couple’s infamous public fight (which some sources report was at Washington Square Park or Central Park, and the show set at Battery Park).
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026
The series then retreats to 2019 to trace the circumstances that led to these killings, building toward the inevitability of Maggie and Paul’s death and filtering the whole family through a lens of catastrophe, where every member is either ill-fated or devious.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Jeffrey, a divorced former Army Ranger, embarks on a sudden and inevitably ill-fated life of crime to help provide for his kids.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
That plan proved ill-fated, however, when he got caught trying to bribe a city official.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 July 2025
Before his turn as the sweet but ill-fated Wallace, Michael B. Jordan's few credits included a minor role in the 2001 Keanu Reeves film Hardball.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025
The move to LoHi ended up being ill-fated, according to Nuñez, because the restaurant lost its identity.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 28 May 2025
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The series, which retells the story of the glamorous and ill-fated relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, finally reached the couple’s infamous public fight (which some sources report was at Washington Square Park or Central Park, and the show set at Battery Park).
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026
The series then retreats to 2019 to trace the circumstances that led to these killings, building toward the inevitability of Maggie and Paul’s death and filtering the whole family through a lens of catastrophe, where every member is either ill-fated or devious.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Jeffrey, a divorced former Army Ranger, embarks on a sudden and inevitably ill-fated life of crime to help provide for his kids.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025
That plan proved ill-fated, however, when he got caught trying to bribe a city official.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 July 2025
Before his turn as the sweet but ill-fated Wallace, Michael B. Jordan's few credits included a minor role in the 2001 Keanu Reeves film Hardball.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025
The move to LoHi ended up being ill-fated, according to Nuñez, because the restaurant lost its identity.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 28 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-fated
Adjective
-
And yes, there is the unfortunate elephant in the room.—
Pete Sweeney
May 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Now resupply is by motorbike, ground robot or drone or in the case of Russia, carried on the backs of unfortunate soldiers known as camels.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
With the Mets taking a 2-1 lead, Rodón, clearly unhappy, appeared to curse at himself as Austin Wells patted him on the shoulder.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
-
Janet reportedly attended an early private screening of the rough cut of the film and walked away pretty unhappy.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The researchers found that the falcon’s body shape and feather structure help maintain stable airflow during high-speed flight, which reduces the possibility of dangerous instabilities that could otherwise make pull-out mechanically disastrous.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
After a disastrous conversation, Bear ends up making the wish himself, breaking the stick and wishing that Nikki would love him more than anyone else in the world, his caution obliterated by emotion.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Chicago is riding a five-game losing streak as the hapless Astros come to town for the holiday weekend.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
And what a treat to witness Bryan Cranston return as ‘Malcolm in the Middle’s’ hapless dad.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Vasyanovych plays Roman, a luckless director who’s out of work and trying to shoot his latest film in a country whose dwindling population is still traumatized by the war.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill-fated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-fated. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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