Propitious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /prə-ˈpi-shəs/ pro·pi·tious

Meaning & Definition of Propitious

Propitious (adjective)

  1. favorably disposed, benevolent
  2. being a good omen, auspicious
  3. tending to favor, advantageous

Propitious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having qualities which inspire hope

    "the success of the first big movie in May was a propitious start for the summer season of blockbusters"

    similar: auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, likely, optimistic, promising, rose-colored, roseate, rosy, upbeat
    related: cheering, comforting, reassuring, soothing, assured, confident, decisive, doubtless, positive, sure, unhesitating, beamish, bullish, eupeptic, favorable, good
    opposite: bleak, dark, depressing, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, dismal, downbeat, dreary, gloomy, hopeless, inauspicious, pessimistic, unencouraging, unlikely, unpromising, unpropitious
    near: cheerless, comfortless, doubtful, dubious, uncertain, bearish, grim, negative, unfavorable, funereal, glum, gray, miserable, wretched

  2. pointing toward a happy outcome

    "a propitious time for starting a business"

    similar: auspicious, bright, encouraging, favorable, golden, heartening, hopeful, promising
    related: fortunate, fortuitous, happy, lucky, providential, advantageous, beneficial, profitable, prosperous, salutary
    opposite: dim, discouraging, disheartening, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, unpropitious
    near: unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky, calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, fatal, ruinous, baleful, dark, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, gloomy, ill, ill-boding, menacing, minatory, ominous, portentous, sinister, threatening

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Propitious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Propitious:

auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, likely, optimistic, promising, rose-colored, roseate, rosy, upbeat, favorable

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Propitious

Words with the opposite meaning of Propitious:

bleak, dark, depressing, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, dismal, downbeat, dreary, gloomy, hopeless, inauspicious, pessimistic, unencouraging, unlikely, unpromising, unpropitious, dim, futureless, unfavorable

Related Words for Propitious

cheering, comforting, reassuring, soothing, assured, confident, decisive, doubtless, positive, sure, unhesitating, beamish, bullish, eupeptic, good, fortunate, fortuitous, happy, lucky, providential, advantageous, beneficial, profitable, prosperous, salutary

Near Antonyms of Propitious

cheerless, comfortless, doubtful, dubious, uncertain, bearish, grim, negative, funereal, glum, gray, miserable, wretched, unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky, calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, fatal, ruinous, baleful, dire, direful, doomy, foreboding, ill, ill-boding, menacing, minatory

Word Forms of Propitious

Derived words: propitiously (adverb), propitiousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Propitious

Middle English propycyous, from Anglo-French propicius, from Latin propitius, probably from pro- for + petere to seek pro-, feather

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Propitious

What does "Propitious" mean?

"Propitious" means favorably disposed, benevolent. As an adjective, it is defined as: favorably disposed, benevolent. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Propitious"?

Other words for "Propitious" include auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful and likely. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Propitious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Propitious"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Propitious". Common alternatives include auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, likely, optimistic and promising.

What is the opposite of "Propitious"?

Antonyms of "Propitious" include bleak, dark, depressing, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, dismal and downbeat. Near antonyms include cheerless, comfortless, doubtful and dubious.

How do you use "Propitious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Propitious" in a sentence: "the success of the first big movie in May was a propitious start for the summer season of blockbusters"; "a propitious time for starting a business".

Is "Propitious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Propitious" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Propitious"?

"Propitious" is pronounced /prə-ˈpi-shəs/ and divided into syllables as pro·pi·tious.

What is the origin of the word "Propitious"?

"Propitious" comes from Middle English propycyous, from Anglo-French propicius, from Latin propitius, probably from pro- for + petere to seek pro-, feather. First known use: 15th century.