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Fateful Definition & Meaning

fateful
adjective
  1. having momentous consequences; of decisive importance; "that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea"- Saturday Rev; "the fatal day of the election finally arrived"
  2. ominously prophetic
  3. (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin; "the stock market crashed on Black Friday"; "a calamitous defeat"; "the battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign"; "such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory"- Charles Darwin; "it is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it"- Douglas MacArthur; "a fateful error"
  4. controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined; "a fatal series of events"

Usage tips for "fateful"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "fateful" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for fateful to find words that pair well.

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Frequently asked questions

What does fateful mean?
having momentous consequences; of decisive importance; "that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea"- Saturday Rev; "the fatal day of the election finally arrived" ominously prophetic (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin; "the stock market crashed on Black Friday"; "a calamitous defeat"; "the battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign"; "such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory"- Charles Darwin
What part of speech is fateful?
Fateful is an adjective.
How many definitions does fateful have?
Fateful has 4 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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