propitious

pro·pi·tious

adjective \prə-ˈpi-shəs\

Definition of PROPITIOUS

1

: favorably disposed : benevolent

2

: being a good omen : auspicious <propitious sign>

3

: tending to favor : advantageous

— pro·pi·tious·ly adverb

— pro·pi·tious·ness noun

Examples of PROPITIOUS

1. Now is a propitious time to start a business.
2. <the success of the first big movie in May was a propitious start for the summer season of blockbusters>

Origin of PROPITIOUS

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PROPITIOUS

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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

Related Words

cheering, comforting, reassuring, soothing; assured, confident, decisive, doubtless, positive, sure, unhesitating; beamish, bullish, eupeptic; favorable, good

Near Antonyms

cheerless, comfortless; doubtful, dubious, uncertain; bearish, grim, negative, unfavorable; funereal, glum, gray (also grey), miserable, wretched

See Synonym Discussion at favorable

Rhymes with PROPITIOUS

ambitious, auspicious, capricious, delicious, factitious, fictitious, flagitious, judicious, lubricious, malicious, nutritious, officious, pernicious, pumiceous, seditious, sericeous, suspicious