Definition of auspiciousnext

Synonym Chooser

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

The words favorable and propitious are common synonyms of auspicious. While all three words mean "pointing toward a happy outcome," auspicious applies to something taken as a sign or omen promising success before or at the start of an event.

an auspicious beginning

In what contexts can favorable take the place of auspicious?

In some situations, the words favorable and auspicious are roughly equivalent. However, favorable implies that the persons involved are approving or helpful or that the circumstances are advantageous.

favorable weather conditions

When would propitious be a good substitute for auspicious?

The synonyms propitious and auspicious are sometimes interchangeable, but propitious may also apply to beginnings but often implies a continuing favorable condition.

a propitious time for starting a business

Example 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 auspicious This promises to be a rare, auspicious and energetic year representing power, strength and dramatic transformation. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 Driven out of the family mansion, mother and child relocate to the less auspicious Belleville, New Jersey — one of the film’s few genuinely funny touches — where Mary whiles away her days in the employ of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026 What are you supposed to do during this auspicious holiday? Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026 Dog 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946 Because of their auspicious relationship with the Horse, Dogs are one of the luckiest signs this year. Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for auspicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for auspicious
Adjective
  • Toles, a promising outfielder who played parts of three seasons with the team from 2016 to 2018, did not report to spring training in 2019 and was quietly placed on the restricted list before it was eventually revealed that Toles had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
    Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Another Brighton foul, by Diego Gomez on Gabriel Martinelli, gives Arsenal a free kick in a promising position.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • However, that divide has grown in recent decades, largely driven by Democrats souring on capitalism and becoming more favorable toward socialism.
    Justin Callais, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The drone can remain overhead, confirm target identity, and strike only when conditions are favorable.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Points of bright-eyed inspiration.
    Jason LeCras, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Would the girl with the bright smile have been embarrassed by her love Stitch as a teen?
    Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And the Royals appreciate the encouraging start.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2026
  • This encouraging result is a testament to the heroism of Mexican forces, particularly of those who lost their lives in the line of duty, and reaffirms the effectiveness of ongoing cooperation between Mexico and the United States, including the intelligence‑sharing that supported the operation.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And though the devastation wrought by last year’s fire was unprecedented in its scale, the Schneiders remain optimistic about the future of their beloved enclave and its plucky local paper.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The reason most fans remain optimistic is the sheer amount of skill position talent Florida retained surrounding its quarterback.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The circumstances in which many creative efforts arise are rarely propitious.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The book has recently been reissued at what feels like a propitious moment, when modern treatments of Greek myth proliferate, many of them adapting stories about destiny and order for a chaotic and individualistic time.
    Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Auspicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/auspicious. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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