AUSPICIOUS Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'auspicious' different from other adjectives like it?

The words favorable and propitious are common synonyms of auspicious . While all three words mean "pointing toward a happy outcome," auspicious applies to something taken as a sign or omen promising success before or at the start of an event. // an auspicious beginning

Q: In what contexts can 'favorable' take the place of 'auspicious'?

In some situations, the words favorable and auspicious are roughly equivalent. However, favorable implies that the persons involved are approving or helpful or that the circumstances are advantageous. // favorable weather conditions

Q: When would 'propitious' be a good substitute for 'auspicious'?

The synonyms propitious and auspicious are sometimes interchangeable, but propitious may also apply to beginnings but often implies a continuing favorable condition. // a propitious time for starting a business

auspicious

adjective

ȯ-ˈspi-shəs

Definition of auspicious next

as in promising

having qualities which inspire hope told him she couldn't dance with him just then, but her auspicious smile encouraged him to ask again later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in favorable

pointing toward a happy outcome began the season with an auspicious win against their strongest football rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word auspicious different from other adjectives like it?

The words favorable and propitious are common synonyms of auspicious. While all three words mean "pointing toward a happy outcome," auspicious applies to something taken as a sign or omen promising success before or at the start of an event.

an auspicious beginning

In what contexts can favorable take the place of auspicious?

In some situations, the words favorable and auspicious are roughly equivalent. However, favorable implies that the persons involved are approving or helpful or that the circumstances are advantageous.

favorable weather conditions

When would propitious be a good substitute for auspicious?

The synonyms propitious and auspicious are sometimes interchangeable, but propitious may also apply to beginnings but often implies a continuing favorable condition.

a propitious time for starting a business

Examples of auspicious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The first half of 2024 has been busy with openings as San Antonio's restaurant industry enters an auspicious moment. —

Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 2 Aug. 2024 Even Saturday’s terrifying moments of political violence — hardly auspicious by any measure — resulted in an iconic photo of Trump, and helped inspire his supporters and further consolidate his party behind him. —

Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 16 July 2024 As per Hindu tradition, the wedding dates were reportedly chosen according to auspicious days on the bride and groom’s birth charts. —

Oscar Holland, CNN, 12 July 2024 Released 24 years after a debut verse on an album no less auspicious than Outkast’s Stankonia, this was a veteran artist taking stock, vividly drawing the lines between the struggling kid and the grateful, repentant adult. —

Christopher R. Weingarten, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for auspicious

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'auspicious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.