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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fortuitous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fortuitous are accidental, casual, and contingent. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

When is it sensible to use accidental instead of fortuitous?

The meanings of accidental and fortuitous largely overlap; however, accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

When might casual be a better fit than fortuitous?

While in some cases nearly identical to fortuitous, casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When could contingent be used to replace fortuitous?

Although the words contingent and fortuitous have much in common, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fortuitous Of those four, two were motel conversions, which turned out to be a fortuitous niche. Anna Scott, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024 The fortuitous appearance of a double – the depressive recluse Dom (also played by Abel) – seems to offer the perfect decoy. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2024 This was somewhat fortuitous as the new Soviet T-34 tanks acquired by Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh were impervious to the M20 Recoilless Rifle and the Vespa TAP would not have fared well in the jungles of Vietnam. Mike Hanlon, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2024 Her name would change again over the course of two later marriages, first to Peeples and then Peeples-Bright, a fittingly fortuitous moniker for such an irrepressibly sunny person. Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fortuitous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortuitous
Adjective
  • Dyson wrote in the op-ed that while the company was fortunate enough to have £140 million to invest in improving farming infrastructure, few other farmers had that kind of financial success.
    BYPrarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Nov. 2024
  • For us and for other animals, however, there’s a second fortunate result: Oxygen.
    Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The defense contends the June 2022 shooting was accidental.
    Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Nelson was one of the six siblings and partial siblings who were ruled to be Prince’s legal heirs after the singer died of an accidental drug overdose in 2016.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • From cuddly rodents to happy amphibians to waddling birds, enjoy these delightful animals.
    Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Aaron Cash, one of Quinteros' attorneys, said his client was happy with the judge's decision.
    Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • However, unexpected surprises and miscommunications with a friend or a group could make things go south in a New York minute.
    Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
  • The bigger issue is Johnson, who once upon a time was such a promising leading actor, a mountain of a man capable of embodying unexpected vulnerability.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Prior to these tests, the scientists called each participant and told them to bring a personal lucky charm to the experiment.
    Popular Science Staff, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
  • According to The Arizona Lottery, two lucky players celebrated wins this past weekend.
    Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • This pattern of growth in cities like Houston, Atlanta, and DC isn’t coincidental.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
  • His highlighting Trump’s remark may not have been coincidental.
    Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near fortuitous

Cite this Entry

“Fortuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortuitous. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fortuitous

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