fatal vs fateful :

fatal or fateful

A “fatal” event is a deadly one; a “fateful” one is determined by fate. If there are no casualties left lying at the scene—whether mangled corpses or failed negotiations—the word you are seeking is “fateful.” The latter word also has many positive uses, such as “George fondly remembered that fateful night in which he first met the woman he was to love to his dying day.”

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Definitions
  fatal
  • a  bringing death
  • s  having momentous consequences; of decisive importance
    the fatal day of the election finally arrived
  • s  (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
    such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory"- Charles Darwin
    it is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it"- Douglas MacArthur
  • s  controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined
    a fatal series of events
  fateful
  • s  having momentous consequences; of decisive importance
    that fateful meeting of the U.N. when...it declared war on North Korea"- Saturday Rev
  • s  ominously prophetic
  • s  (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
    a fateful error
  • s  controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined
News & Articles
  fatal
  • Fatal crash closes eastbound lanes at Shields Boulevard on I-40
    A fatal crash has been reported on Interstate 40 in south Oklahoma City. The eastbound lanes of I-40 at Shields Boulevard are shut down.
    June 19, 2013 - The Oklahoman
  • Fatal Crash in Jonesboro
    Police believe speed and alcohol both played factors in a fatal car crash in Jonesboro early Wednesday morning. State police say 48-year old Daniel Snowdeal of Jonesboro was driving on Route 1A when he lost control and struck a pole. The vehicle flipped over. The report came in just before . . .
    June 19, 2013 - WABI Bangor
  • Fatal Motorcycle Crash Ties up SF Traffic on 101
    A fatal motorcycle collision blocked the three left lanes of U.S. Highway 101 in San Francisco Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area
    June 18, 2013 - NBC Bay Area
  fateful
  • Mini Reviews
    OPENING THIS WEEK BEFORE MIDNIGHT: Nine years after a fateful rendezvous in Paris and nearly two decades since their first meeting, an American writer and a French environmentalist once again spend an evening discussing life and love.
    June 13, 2013 - Athens Banner-Herald
  • Mini Reviews
    OPENING THIS WEEK BEFORE MIDNIGHT: Nine years after a fateful rendezvous in Paris and nearly two decades since their first meeting, an American writer and a French environmentalist once again spend an evening discussing life and love.
    June 13, 2013 - Athens Banner-Herald
  • Mother who lost 3 in drowning is on a mission, in spite of fear of water
    A Shreveport mother who lost three of her children drowning in the Red River three years ago has struggled with a fear of water since that fateful day, but her mission to make sure others can swim continues.
    June 13, 2013 - KSLA-TV Shreveport