Synonyms of fortunate

fortunate

adjective

ˈfȯrch-nət 

1

as in happy

coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly

in a fortunate turn of events, the motel had one last vacancy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• happy
• lucky
• convenient
• fortuitous
• coincidental
• favorable
• providential
• unexpected
• flukey
• promising
• fluky
• heaven-sent
• chance
• hopeful
• timely
• opportune
• beneficial
• bright
• unforeseen
• seasonable
• encouraging
• accidental
• good
• benign
• propitious
• advantageous
• auspicious
• serendipitous
• profitable
• heartening
• unlooked-for
• fair
• golden
• halcyon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfortunate
• unhappy
• unlucky
• hapless
• luckless
• expected
• anticipated
• untimely
• inconvenient
• foreseen
• intentional
• inopportune
• unseasonable
• deliberate
• planned
• ill-fated
• ill-starred
• star-crossed
• disastrous
• catastrophic
• inauspicious
• unpromising
• calamitous

2

as in lucky

having good luck

rabbits' feet are seen as making the carrier of them fortunate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lucky
• happy
• privileged
• gifted
• blessed
• favored
• promising
• blest
• golden
• hot
• fair

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfortunate
• unlucky
• unhappy
• hapless
• luckless
• disadvantaged
• cursed
• snakebitten
• ill-fated
• snakebit
• ill-starred
• star-crossed
• curst

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fortunate

Storm tracks So far this year, the United States has been fortunate to avoid a direct hurricane landfall in a season that was forecast to be busier than normal. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025

But are these fortunate billionaires getting any more charitable? —Ella Malmgren, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

More than 700 children participated in a two-month initiative that challenged the youth to devote time out of their summer to volunteer and serve the less fortunate. —Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Sep. 2025

The Padres are so fortunate to have great fans. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025