fatalism
/ˈfeɪt(ə)lɪz(ə)m
/noun [mass noun]
1The belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable: fatalism can breed indifference to the human costs of war...
- The difference reflects the difference between an eschatology of kingdom transformation and hope versus an eschatology of inevitable deterioration and fatalism.
- Waiting for the inevitable dose of fatalism this analogy provides is somewhat predicable but thoroughly enjoyable.
- In the end, the novel's central characters embrace a blend of classical and Shakespearean fatalism mixed with existential solipsism.
1.1A submissive attitude to events, resulting from a fatalistic attitude: he experienced a sense of fatalism that kept his fear at bay...
- In such circumstances, cynicism, passivity and a sense of fatalism can influence public attitudes.
- Evidence also was lacking to show that attitudes of acceptance, fatalism, or denial affected outcomes.
- When it comes to American jobs and the global economy, the best words to sum up public attitudes are frustration and fatalism.
Synonyms
passive acceptance, resignation, acceptance, acceptance of the inevitable, stoicism;
defeatism, pessimism, negativism, negative thinking, gloominess, doom and gloom, gloom;
predeterminism, predestinarianism, necessitarianism, fate, fatedness
Derivatives
fatalist
/ noun ...- I'm a fatalist and I believe that once you are up there, there's nothing you can do.
- Jeremy, an incurable fatalist, is convinced he's destined to marry her.
- Yes, optimists should stand aside, but fatalists should, too.
- second reading
- Second Republic
- second screen
- second sight
- second-sighted
- second-story man
- second strike
- second string
- second teeth
- second thought
- second thoughts
- second to none
- second wind
- Second World
- Second World War
- secrecy
- secret
- secret agent
- secretagogue
- secretaire
- secretarial
- secretariat
- secretary
- secretary bird
- secretary general