ill-fated

American  

[il-fey-tid] / ˈɪlˈfeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. destined, as though by fate, to an unhappy or unfortunate end.

   an ill-fated voyage.

   Synonyms:

   ill-starred, doomed, cursed, accursed

2. bringing bad fortune.

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ill-fated British  

adjective

1. doomed or unlucky

   an ill-fated marriage

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Etymology

Origin of ill-fated

First recorded in 1700–10

Explanation

If you have terrible luck, you're ill-fated. An ill-fated plan to drive across the country might end with your old car breaking down in Kansas. An ill-fated day is one you remember for years as extremely unlucky, and an ill-fated decision, in retrospect, was a really bad choice. An ill-fated attempt at tightrope walking results in falling off over and over again, and an ill-fated choice of lunch in a foreign country might end in food poisoning. Ill-fated is rooted in ill-, "badly," and fated, "be destined to happen," from the Latin fatum, "that which has been spoken."

Example Sentences

It seems that despite Kidd repeatedly asking everyone to “move forward,” his presence was a constant reminder of the Mavericks’ ill-fated trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

October’s windfall also proved fleeting: In January, one of the Hyperliquid accounts lost more than $128 million on an ill-fated bet that ether would rise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

The United States is a lot more than deadly weaponry and ill-fated military interventions.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

Atletico, without being above average in those ill-fated 23 minutes, were 4-0 up, Micky van de Ven also failing to keep his footing to present Antoine Griezmann with a goal.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

I consider mentioning her last ill-fated decision—the one about having fun at the revel—but that will just annoy her.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• disastrous