FATALISTIC Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

fatalistic

adjective

Definition of fatalistic

as in cynical

having or showing a belief that the future is determined and cannot be changed His fatalistic outlook resulted in a lack of motivation to pursue a career.

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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 fatalistic With its fourth chapter, Reacher goes full neo-noir, embracing the genre’s fatalistic, gloomy approach while staying true to its action roots. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026 The mystery character, played by Sadie Sink, is also dealing with her own demons of loss and fatalistic desperation. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 But her grandfather Andrew Viterbi had a very different perspective, somewhere between fatalistic and hopeful. — Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 27 July 2026 There’s another, less fatalistic response to both the Balogun red card reversal and the economic malaise. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 July 2026 By contrast, Whitehead was fatalistic. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Many, though, are fearful about what is to come at the World Cup — and fatalistic about the future. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 June 2026 Blowing a 3-0 lead in an elimination game was a kick in the shins worthy of this most fatalistic of sports markets. — John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 May 2026 Beats that might once have been framed through a hazy, absurdist lens now play as something much more fatalistic and frightening. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fatalistic

Adjective

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has had a rough year, and in a cynical way, that makes for great TV.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
This cynical and inhumane terrorist attack against children cannot be justified.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

That left the debtor having to prove the negative that the debtor really didn't have any way to re-establish control over trust assets, and such was (and still is) a very tough sell.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
There is some debate in our field about, again, these higher-level components of pain, the emotional negative valence that’s associated with pain.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of negative

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“Fatalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fatalistic. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fatalistic

adjective

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