ill-fated

[il-fey-tid]

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.

ill-fated

adjective

1. doomed or unlucky

   an ill-fated marriage

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill-fated¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

The best story in “Letters” is the first, in which Ada Blackjack, a young Inupiat woman, is the sole survivor of an ill-fated Arctic expedition begun in 1921.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lecornu has arguably gone down in even more embarrassing circumstances than his two ill-fated predecessors.

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In planning that strongly echoes the ill-fated invasion of Iraq, Rubio is working with exiled opposition politicians on day-after regime change plans.

Read more on Salon

Or will this prove to be a campaign that in some ways was ill-fated from the start?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Though they were getting airplay, the band’s album, which they recorded in 1981, didn’t see daylight because the ill-fated Rock-A-Mod Records, which they recorded the album for, folded before it could be released.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disastrous