Fatal-Fateful | Commonly Confused Words

Fatal

/ˈfeɪtl/

Causing death or leading to failure or disaster

who in his fatal freshness instantly replies: 'Thank you.How fatal that would be!But a delay might be fatal.

/ˈfeɪtfəl/

Causing an important or often unpleasant event

The fateful encounter changed her life forever.On that fateful day, everything went wrong.His fateful decision sealed their fates.

Fatal is often associated with death or causing death, while fateful refers to events that have significant consequences or destiny.
Remember fatal as related to fatal accidents or deadly diseases, emphasizing its dire nature.
Think of fateful in terms of fate, suggesting something crucial or momentous is happening.
In a medical context, fatal is commonly used to describe a condition that leads to death.
Fateful can also suggest an element of inevitability or destiny in the outcome of an event.