fatal
causing death; deadly
Causing a person or animal to die, or sure to make them die.
a fatal [injury/accident/disease/shooting]
- He died in a fatal car crash on the highway.
- Without quick treatment, the snakebite could have been fatal.
- The report found that a fatal error in the safety system caused the explosion.
- Doctors say the disease is rarely fatal if caught early.
- Two hikers suffered fatal injuries after falling from the cliff.
- He was in a fatal accident last year.
- The doctor said the wound could be fatal.
- This virus is often fatal for small children.
- One person had a fatal injury in the fire.
- Without water, the situation became fatal for the animals.
causing complete failure or ruin
So serious and bad that it destroys a plan, chance, or situation.
a fatal [mistake/flaw/error/weakness] (for/to [something])
- His decision to ignore the warning was a fatal mistake for the project.
- A single typo in the contract turned out to be fatal to their case.
- The product had a fatal flaw that made it impossible to sell.
- Her lack of preparation proved fatal to her chances of passing the exam.
- That comment was fatal to his relationship with the team.
- A small lie can be fatal to trust.
- One big mistake was fatal to their plan.
- Her fear of change was fatal to the new business.
- This problem could be fatal for the company.
- His late goal was fatal to our chances to win.
decided by fate or destiny
Fixed by fate and impossible to change, often with a sad or serious result.
a fatal [meeting/decision/attraction] between [people]
- Their fatal meeting on that rainy night changed both their lives forever.
- He believed it was a fatal love, written in the stars long before they were born.
- The novel tells the story of a fatal attraction that draws two strangers together.
- She saw their encounter as a fatal sign that destiny wanted them to be together.
- In the play, the hero cannot escape his fatal destiny.
- In the story, a fatal meeting starts the tragedy.
- He thinks their love is fatal and cannot be changed.
- The book is about a fatal attraction between two people.
- The hero tries to run from his fatal destiny.
- She feels a fatal pull toward him in the film.
- Base: fatal
be fatal to
1cause the end or ruin of
To destroy something or make it fail completely.
- This scandal could be fatal to his career.
- A drop in sales would be fatal to the small business.
- Such a result would be fatal to their hopes of promotion.
fatal attraction
1dangerous, destructive attraction
A very strong feeling of love or interest that brings serious trouble or even death.
- The novel tells the story of a fatal attraction between two strangers.
- He feels a fatal attraction to risk and danger.
- Their relationship became a fatal attraction that destroyed them both.
fatal error
1critical error that stops everything
A very serious error that makes a computer program, system, or process stop completely.
- The installation failed because the program reported a fatal error.
- Users saw a message about a fatal error and had to restart the software.
- A fatal error in the code caused the website to crash.
fatal mistake
1mistake that destroys success
A very serious mistake that destroys your plan, chance, or success.
- Not checking the figures was a fatal mistake.
- Leaving the goalkeeper unmarked was a fatal mistake in the last minute.
- He later called his decision to lie a fatal mistake.
prove fatal
1turn out to cause death
To finally cause death or complete failure, after some time has passed.
- Without medical help, the bite could prove fatal.
- The delay in calling the ambulance proved fatal.
- Ignoring these warnings may prove fatal in the long run.
fatal flaw
1serious weakness that causes failure
A very serious weakness in a person, plan, or thing that finally makes it fail.
- The software's fatal flaw was its lack of security features.
- The plan had one fatal flaw: it depended on perfect weather.
- His inability to listen to others proved to be his fatal flaw.
- His fatal flaw is that he never listens to advice.
- Critics say the law’s fatal flaw is that it is impossible to enforce.