fatalistic

American

[feyt-l-is-tik] / ˌfeɪt lˈɪs tɪk /

Also fatalist

adjective

demonstrating a belief that all events are inevitable, so one’s choices and actions make no difference.

Fear, uncertainty, and a feeling of powerlessness contribute to a fatalistic attitude among many refugees when it comes to seeking justice.
Philosophy. advancing the idea that all events are naturally predetermined or subject to fate.

A fatalistic view, which denies the possibility of free will, makes some sense scientifically.

Other Word Forms

fatalistically adverb
nonfatalistic adjective
quasi‐fatalistic adjective
quasi‐fatalistically adverb
unfatalistic adjective
unfatalistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of fatalistic

fatalist ( def. ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still, he urged students not to be fatalistic about it.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

They’re a rejoinder to all the fatalistic commentary about tanking and how “being bad to get better” is an accepted reality of the NBA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Mays, in the time I’ve known him, has been realistic rather than fatalistic.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025

So, when Nash touched down in the corner on Sunday, those with a half-decent memory and a fatalistic bent started to lose all hope for Townsend's team.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2025

Finally he realized all that urgent loud noise was coming from outside his dreams in the real world, heralding another calamity, no doubt, and with a fatalistic whimper the volunteer awoke.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023