What does 'Fate worse than death' mean?

Describing something as a fate worse than death is a fairly common way of implying that it is unpleasant.

• Category: Death

Idioms similar to 'Fate worse than death'

• Done to death
• At death's door
• Brush with death
• Dice with death
• At death's door
• Cheat death
• Kiss of death
• Death warmed up
• Sick to death
• Death of a thousand cuts
• Matter of life and death