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 The killing was Kansas City’s 104th homicide of 2026, according to The Star’s database, which includes fatal police shootings. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 One scene that was captured on video by TMZ appeared to recreate the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 And with fatal Black Sea attacks continuing into October, prospects of a ceasefire look slim, even as Turkey ramps up efforts to broker a deal due to the risk to global food security. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 Knight was then thrust into a fatal four-way match at Royal Rumble 2024. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
  1. disastrous
  2. lethal
  3. catastrophic
  4. deadly
  5. unfortunate
Adjective
  • But real power, particularly in numbers, can make things happen or stop really disastrous things from happening.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The 46-year-old was dismissed from the Mets halfway through the 2026 season after a disastrous start, which included a 12-game losing streak in April.
    — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Primaries Kenny and Christina have long wanted to come to Thailand, but have been held back by Christina’s lethal nut allergy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
  • How did a live round get into the revolver and who brought the lethal ammunition to the set?
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain permanently closed its X2 roller coaster after multiple lawsuits accused the attraction of causing catastrophic brain injuries.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • So, Correa repeatedly assured voters that abandoning the dollar would be catastrophic and was not on his agenda.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophic
Adjective
  • Measles usually kills two or three people in every 1,000 cases, the WHO says, but the disease can be more deadly in poorer nations because of factors such as malnutrition.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The deadly fire erupted Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, where fierce winds fueled flames that spread beyond the installation and into surrounding rural areas.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • Neighbors shocked about stabbing Neighbors say Thomas was known to have mental health issues and called the stabbing unfortunate.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To make matters worse, India’s Supreme Court, another vital democratic institution, has also played an unfortunate role in this train of events.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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