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

\/\/ fatal<\/em> consequences<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'deadly' instead of 'fatal'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms deadly<\/em><\/a> and fatal<\/em> are close in meaning, deadly<\/em> applies to an established or very likely cause of death.<\/p>

\/\/ a deadly<\/em> disease<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'lethal' be a good substitute for 'fatal'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of lethal<\/em><\/a> and fatal<\/em> largely overlap; however, lethal<\/em> applies to something that is bound to cause death or exists for the destruction of life.<\/p>

\/\/ lethal<\/em> gas<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'mortal' be a better fit than 'fatal'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms mortal<\/em><\/a> and fatal<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but mortal<\/em> implies that death has occurred or is inevitable.<\/p>

\/\/ a mortal<\/em> wound<\/p>" } } ] }

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 Investigators probe the fatal collision between an Air Canada plane and a truck at LaGuardia Airport. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026 The pilot and copilot who died in the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years were both based out of Canada, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority. —Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026 Minnesota officials sued the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on Tuesday, seeking evidence the agencies have withheld related to three shootings — two of them fatal — by federal officers during this year’s immigration crackdown. —Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2026 The late Tim Jones, the Park Forest police officer who for nearly 10 years fought to survive near fatal bullet wounds to his head, and whose funeral service last December drew perhaps more than 1,000 mourners. —Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal
  1. disastrous
  2. lethal
  3. catastrophic
  4. deadly
  5. unfortunate
Adjective
  • So had Florida not decided to tweak its offense to emphasize paint touches, dwindling the bricks its guards had regularly tossed through the first two disastrous months, this could have been a historic season.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Part of the rush to take up flags may be the disastrous economy in Britain.
    — Simon Constable, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • If an individual’s core temperature stays above 104 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 30 minutes, the result can be lethal.
    — Brad Stulberg, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • At Blackburn Rovers, Shearer was lethal, scoring more than 30 league goals in three successive campaigns.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of lethal
Adjective
  • The line between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah is more blurred than ever after the latter’s catastrophic performance in the 2023-2024 war with Israel.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The catastrophic 1969 offshore oil spill in Santa Barbara killed thousands of sea birds and marine mammals.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of catastrophic
Adjective
  • The death toll was nearly double that of the previous figure given by authorities, who continued search and recovery efforts at the site of the deadly crash.
    — Luis Jaime Acosta, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
  • An 18-year-old woman from Kansas City is dead following a deadly crash in rural Platte County early Sunday morning.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of deadly
Adjective
  • One bad matchup, one bad shooting night, one unfortunate stretch of five minutes can define a season’s ending.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • And there are a slew of new candidates for the blood cannon in Ready or Not 2, whose baddies are a more wide-ranging lot than the Le Domases, the game-company-owning clan that Grace (Samara Weaving) is unfortunate enough to marry into in the original Ready or Not.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Mar. 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 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fatal

Nglish: Translation of fatal for Spanish Speakers

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