Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of fortunate are happy, lucky, and providential. While all these words mean "meeting with unforeseen success," fortunate suggests being rewarded beyond one's deserts.

fortunate in my investments

How does the word happy relate to other synonyms for fortunate?

Happy combines the implications of lucky and fortunate with stress on being blessed.

a series of happy accidents

When is lucky a more appropriate choice than fortunate?

While the synonyms lucky and fortunate are close in meaning, lucky stresses the agency of chance in bringing about a favorable result.

won because of a lucky bounce

Where would providential be a reasonable alternative to fortunate?

In some situations, the words providential and fortunate are roughly equivalent. However, providential more definitely implies the help or intervention of a higher power.

a providential change in the weather

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 fortunate But Andrew is more symbol than great character — a significant time-capsule relic slightly diminished by the fortunate evolution of human thinking about sexuality and AIDS. 14. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024 The show pitches the prince's project as an effort to continue his mother Princess Diana's legacy by trying to eradicate homelessness and featured footage from his childhood of mother and son working to help those less fortunate than themselves. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Jonathan Drake—Reuters Alex Matisse, founder of East Fork Pottery in Asheville, North Carolina, says that his production facilities were fortunate enough to not be impacted by the storm. Solcyré Burga, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 Unlucky for the wee beast, yes, but the circumstances of its demise proved fortunate for paleontologists: Its body was encased in iron-rich, oxygen-poor sediment that fostered the formation of the mineral pyrite, also called fool’s gold, fossilizing the arthropod in opulent fashion. Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fortunate 

Thesaurus Entries Near fortunate

Cite this Entry

“Fortunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortunate. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on fortunate

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