Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Determined by fate or destiny: Describes something that is preordained, inevitable, or seemingly controlled by a supernatural power or the force of destiny.
   • Doomed to a specific, often negative, outcome: Describes a person or thing destined for an unhappy, unfortunate, or disastrous end.

Usage

The adjective "fated" is used to describe a situation, event, or person's life course that appears inevitable and beyond human control. It often carries a solemn, literary, or tragic tone. It is frequently followed by the preposition "to" and an infinitive verb (e.g., fated to die) or a noun (e.g., fated to failure).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • It seemed they were fated to meet again. (Their meeting appeared inevitable due to destiny.)
  • The expedition was fated from the start. (The expedition was doomed to fail from its beginning.)
  • He felt fated to repeat his father's mistakes. (He felt destined by forces beyond his control to repeat the errors.)

Advanced Usage

• "star-crossed" or "ill-fated": These are common collocations emphasizing a tragic destiny.
  • Their ill-fated love story is the subject of the opera.
• Used in passive constructions to emphasize the subject's lack of agency.
  • She was fated never to find true happiness.

Variants and Related Words

• Fate (n): The power believed to control events; destiny.
  • He believed in the power of fate.
• Fatal (adj): Causing death; leading to failure or disaster.
  • He suffered a fatal injury.
• Fatalistic (adj): Believing that all events are predetermined and inevitable.
  • She had a fatalistic view of the future.

Synonyms

• Destined: Intended for a particular purpose or end (can be neutral or positive, whereas "fated" often implies a negative or unavoidable end).
• Doomed: Certain to suffer death, failure, or destruction.
• Predestined: Determined in advance by divine will or fate.

Related Phrases

• Fated to (do something): Destined by fate to a specific action or outcome.
  • The hero was fated to save the kingdom.
• Fated for (something): Destined for a specific condition or result.
  • The project was fated for failure.

Adjective

1. (usually followed by `to') determined by tragic fate
   • doomed to unhappiness
   • fated to be the scene of Kennedy's assassination