fateful

UK: /ˈfeɪtfʊl/ US: /ˈfeɪtfəl/ ,(fāt′fəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fate•ful /ˈfeɪtfəl/   adj. 

1. having great significance or consequences;
   decisively important;
   critical:
   a fateful meeting.
2. fatal, deadly, or disastrous:
   that fateful day that started like any other.

fate•ful•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fate•ful  (fāt′fəl), adj. 

1. having momentous significance or consequences;
   decisively important;
   portentous:
   a fateful meeting between the leaders of the two countries.
2. fatal, deadly, or disastrous.
3. controlled or determined by destiny;
   inexorable.
4. prophetic;
   ominous.

• fate + -ful 1705–15

fate′ful•ly, adv. 
fate′ful•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 4. . See ominous. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fateful / ˈfeɪtfʊl/ adjective

1. having important consequences; decisively important
2. bringing death or disaster
3. controlled by or as if by fate
4. prophetic

ˈfatefully adverb

ˈfatefulness noun