Prosperous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈprä-sp(ə-)rəs/ pros·per·ous

Meaning & Definition of Prosperous

Prosperous (adjective)

  1. auspicious, favorable
  2. marked by success or economic well-being
  3. enjoying vigorous and healthy growth, flourishing

Prosperous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. marked by vigorous growth and well-being especially economically

    "a prosperous business that will soon be expanding"

    similar: booming, boomy, flourishing, golden, halcyon, healthy, lush, palmy, prospering, roaring, successful, thriving
    related: affluent, moneyed, opulent, rich, substantial, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do, comfortable
    opposite: depressed, unprosperous, unsuccessful
    near: declining, dying, failing, floundering, languishing, struggling, bankrupt, bankrupted, insolvent

  2. having attained a desired end or state of good fortune

    "one of the most prosperous families in the community"

    similar: flourishing, going, palmy, successful, thriving, triumphant, in clover
    related: coming, promising, booming, growing, roaring, robust, boffo, gangbusters, runaway, socko
    opposite: failed, unsuccessful
    near: futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing, failing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing-out, declining, slipping, slumping, waning, bankrupt, kaput, kerflooey, destroyed, ruined, wrecked

  3. growing thickly and vigorously

    "our neighbor has a real green thumb and a yard full of healthy, prosperous plants"

    similar: lush, luxuriant, rampant, rank, weedy
    related: lavish, profuse, overgrown, overrun, verdant, close, dense, tangled, thick
    opposite: sparse
    near: dormant, blighted, stunted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Prosperous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Prosperous:

booming, boomy, flourishing, golden, halcyon, healthy, lush, palmy, prospering, roaring, successful, thriving, going, triumphant, luxuriant, rampant, rank, weedy, in clover

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Prosperous

Words with the opposite meaning of Prosperous:

depressed, unprosperous, unsuccessful, failed, sparse

Related Words for Prosperous

affluent, moneyed, opulent, rich, substantial, wealthy, well-heeled, well-off, well-to-do, comfortable, coming, promising, growing, robust, boffo, gangbusters, runaway, socko, lavish, profuse, overgrown, overrun, verdant, close, dense, tangled, thick

Near Antonyms of Prosperous

declining, dying, failing, floundering, languishing, struggling, bankrupt, bankrupted, insolvent, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, no-good, unpromising, collapsing, flopping, flunking, folding, washing-out, slipping, slumping, waning, kaput, kerflooey, destroyed, ruined, wrecked, dormant, blighted, stunted

Word Forms of Prosperous

Derived words: prosperously (adverb), prosperousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Prosperous

Middle English, from Latin prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, (of omens) propitious" (going back to *pro-sparo-, from pro- pro-:2 + *sparo-, going back to Indo-European *sph1-ró- "thriving") + -ous -ous speed:1

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Prosperous

What does "Prosperous" mean?

"Prosperous" means auspicious, favorable. As an adjective, it is defined as: auspicious, favorable. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Prosperous"?

Other words for "Prosperous" include booming, boomy, flourishing, golden, halcyon, healthy, lush and palmy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Prosperous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Prosperous"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Prosperous". Common alternatives include booming, boomy, flourishing, golden, halcyon, healthy, lush, palmy, prospering and roaring.

What is the opposite of "Prosperous"?

Antonyms of "Prosperous" include depressed, unprosperous, unsuccessful, failed and sparse. Near antonyms include declining, dying, failing and floundering.

How do you use "Prosperous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Prosperous" in a sentence: "a prosperous business that will soon be expanding"; "one of the most prosperous families in the community"; "our neighbor has a real green thumb and a yard full of healthy, prosperous plants".

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

"Prosperous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Prosperous"?

"Prosperous" is pronounced /ˈprä-sp(ə-)rəs/ and divided into syllables as pros·per·ous.

What is the origin of the word "Prosperous"?

"Prosperous" comes from Middle English, from Latin prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, (of omens) propitious" (going back to *pro-sparo-, from pro- pro-:2 + *sparo-, going back to Indo-European *sph1-ró- "thriving") + -ous -ous speed:1. First known use: 15th century.