fate worse than death

Meanings

1. 1phrasesingular

   An extremely unpleasant experience or situation, often seen as worse than dying.

   Grammar: Used with 'a': 'a fate worse than death'. It is an idiom and does not change form.

   Patterns

   • a fate worse than death
   • suffer a fate worse than death
   • seem like a fate worse than death

   For him, having to sing in public was a fate worse than death.

   She joked that going without coffee for a week would be a fate worse than death.

   The character feared a fate worse than death: losing his reputation.

2. 2phrasesingularhumorous

   Something that is considered the worst possible thing that could happen.

   Grammar: Often used in a dramatic or humorous way; not usually plural.

   Patterns

   • be a fate worse than death
   • consider something a fate worse than death

   To a teenager, being seen with your parents at the mall is a fate worse than death.

   Missing the final episode would be a fate worse than death for a true fan.

Common combinations

suffer a fate worse than death

The hero would rather die than suffer a fate worse than death.

seem like a fate worse than death

To him, a day without his phone seems like a fate worse than death.

joke about a fate worse than death

They joked about a fate worse than death: having to work all weekend.

Synonyms and how they differ

the worst possible outcome

More neutral and literal; 'a fate worse than death' is dramatic and often exaggerated.

a living nightmare

Describes an ongoing terrible situation, while 'a fate worse than death' focuses on something seen as worse than dying.

Opposites

Word family

fate noun

The things that happen to someone, often seen as decided by a power beyond their control.

fatal adjective

Causing death or disaster.

Commonly confused: fate worse than death or fate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fate worse than death”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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