FATAL Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

fatal

adjective

ˈfā-tᵊl

Definition of fatal next

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune I made the fatal mistake of sharing my secret with the office's biggest blabbermouth

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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 incident marks the third major U.S. aviation accident in the past eight days, including a fatal crash involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and passenger plane near D.C. When did the Bering Air plane go missing? —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Examining early images of the wreckage after a midair collision in Washington, DC 02:41 New York CNN — US airlines had gone 16 years without a fatal crash until Wednesday night. —

Chris Isidore, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025 What To Know Trump blamed diversity initiatives at the FAA for the fatal crash and pointed the finger at the Biden and Obama administrations. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 American Airlines — Shares tumbled 4% the morning after a regional jet flying for the company collided with an Army helicopter, marking the first fatal commercial airline crash on U.S. soil since 2009. —

Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fatal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatal

Adjective

Which one among them wins is going to depend heavily on who gets hot come the playoffs and who can best avoid disastrous results.

— Jeff Gluck, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Gloria’s decision not to pay for an independent evaluation of warehouse health risks — in a city reeling from its disastrous acquisition of an uninhabitable Ash Street office tower — wasn’t just surprising.

— U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025