Words / C1

fayt-uh-LIST-ik/ˌfeɪtəˈlɪstɪk/

Fatalistic means believing that events are decided by fate and cannot be changed: a fatalistic shrug, a fatalistic view. Fatal (already in the dictionary) means causing death or complete failure, not this attitude; a shrug does not fill a night cell.

Meaning

Believing that events are decided by fate and cannot be changed.

Examples

• “A fatalistic shrug does not fill the night cell; name the spare.”
• “Resigned is the close twin. Defeatist is ruder. A shrug is a mood. A name on the log is cover. Write the name; then shrug in the debrief if the incident file still needs a limitations note.”

Good to know

Resigned to fate. Related: fatal (already in the dictionary; different sense). A shrug ≠ a named spare.

Near in meaning

resigned, defeatist, accepting

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