fatal

adjective

ˈfā-tᵊl How to pronounce fatal (audio)
Definition of fatalnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fatal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fatal are deadly, lethal, and mortal. While all these words mean "causing or capable of causing death," fatal stresses the inevitability of what has in fact resulted in death or destruction.

fatal consequences

When is it sensible to use deadly instead of fatal?

While the synonyms deadly and fatal are close in meaning, deadly applies to an established or very likely cause of death.

a deadly disease

When would lethal be a good substitute for fatal?

The meanings of lethal and fatal largely overlap; however, lethal applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.

lethal gas

When might mortal be a better fit than fatal?

The synonyms mortal and fatal are sometimes interchangeable, but mortal implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.

a mortal wound

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 fatal Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in California for a fatal hit-and-run in 2015, survived. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 This past Monday, yet another fatal stabbing occurred in the early morning hours on Bond Street in Hartford where the Hartford Police Department says 32-year-old Nykole Tellado was involved in an outdoor dispute with another woman and a man. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 All of it is fatal for someone hoping to dress up a hobby as an enterprise. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 The fatal crash has renewed calls for safety improvements along the stretch of Third Avenue that has seen multiple deadly crashes over the years. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
  1. disastrous
  2. lethal
  3. catastrophic
  4. deadly
  5. unfortunate
Adjective
  • Arjun Poudel, a health reporter in Nepal, was commuting to the offices of the Kathmandu Post, in the country’s capital, when messages started coming in about a disastrous flood in his home town, close to the border with China.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since a disastrous debut, the rookie right-hander has allowed just two runs over his last 9 2/3 innings with 15 strikeouts.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Airwars is the first to map the damage radius of the strikes in Lamerd and estimate the lethal range of the weapon used.
    — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • As the consequences of this strategically catastrophic campaign become ever more apparent, the New Right’s clout is set to grow, having opposed the war from the start.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The heavy snows purify the air and insulate the food warehouses, locking in the high humidity and stable chill necessary to nurture delicate winter koji and yeast strains without catastrophic temperature spikes.
    — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of catastrophic
Adjective
  • The death toll from a Russian strike on a warehouse west of Kyiv, the war's deadliest attack so far this year, rose to 38 with four people still missing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media Sunday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine launched deadly strikes in recent months on the facilities of Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries, saying the company sells dual-use goods that have aided the Kremlin’s war effort.
    — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • Hall was excellent for Newcastle against Liverpool in the clubs’ season opener on Sunday, and unfortunate to concede a stoppage-time penalty for the equaliser.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate

Browse Nearby Words

fat
fatal
fatalist
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Cite this Entry

“Fatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatal. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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