Definition of felicitousnext
1
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses a felicitous accompaniment to dinner is provided by a pianist on weekends at the restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective felicitous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of felicitous are appropriate, apt, fitting, fit, happy, meet, proper, and suitable. While all these words mean "right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance," felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When is appropriate a more appropriate choice than felicitous?

While in some cases nearly identical to felicitous, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

When might apt be a better fit than felicitous?

Although the words apt and felicitous have much in common, apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When would fit be a good substitute for felicitous?

The meanings of fit and felicitous largely overlap; however, fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

When could fitting be used to replace felicitous?

In some situations, the words fitting and felicitous are roughly equivalent. However, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to felicitous?

While the synonyms happy and felicitous are close in meaning, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

When is it sensible to use meet instead of felicitous?

The words meet and felicitous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When can proper be used instead of felicitous?

The synonyms proper and felicitous are sometimes interchangeable, but proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

In what contexts can suitable take the place of felicitous?

The words suitable and felicitous can be used in similar contexts, but suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

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 felicitous And in one of those felicitous culinary accidents like the Toll House cookie, wound up with a gluten-free product. Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024 Pebble Beach was not a felicitous meeting of land and sea. Doug Ferguson, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 Ellis-Bextor now joins Kate Bush in the league of criminally underrated British singers who have received a late-career reappraisal thanks to a felicitous TV or film sync. Vulture, 11 Jan. 2024 That breadth is a felicitous analog to the roaming comedy of the script. Scott Hocker, theweek, 5 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for felicitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felicitous
Adjective
  • What might be a pleasant wine on the ground often loses nuance or becomes imbalanced in flight since the low cabin pressure tends to mute aromas.
    Karla Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is in full bloom, and water excursions like kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling are also especially pleasant at this time of year, even if the water’s a bit chilly, at least to natives.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The man is facing a charge of grossly negligent homicide, with state prosecutors in Innsbruck accusing him of making multiple errors, including seeking help too late and not carrying suitable equipment.
    Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Hardie Board is available in a range of styles, including options suitable for historic homes.
    Jessica Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The omakase experience is delightful, and Shinya Takahashi's talent is impressive—almost as impressive as the fact that he's taught himself English in a couple of years via watching YouTube videos (all while raising five children).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
  • This delightful stop-motion comedy from the world of Wallace & Gromit brilliantly tells its story without a word of dialogue.
    Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • While it could, theoretically, be used in things like phones, such batteries have lower energy densities and may not be appropriate in the long run.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Some researchers question whether addiction is the appropriate term to describe heavy use of social media, arguing that a person must be experiencing identifiable symptoms.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Watch summer corn shine in this fresh and flavorful recipe that stars sumac and feta in one delicious recipe.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Spreading almond butter on toast is another delicious way to enjoy this nutrient-dense food.
    Zia Sherrell, Health, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The snow was relentless in Bormio, coloring the slope a cloudy white, a fitting stage for the first ski mountaineering races in the history of the Olympic Games.
    Zak Keefer, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
  • And, if this is to be the legend’s final Olympic Games, then nothing short of the gold medal would have been fitting.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • With a creamy sauce and tender, silky onions, everything about this dish is enjoyable—including the fact it's made in one pan for easy clean-up.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
  • These popular items aim to make life with pets easier, cleaner, and more enjoyable.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Seoul Central District Court orders Yoon released from detention, citing an unresolved issues about whether investigators had the proper authority to detain him.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The Almanac recommends ensuring proper drainage in fields and gardens, rotating crops when possible, and looking for early signs of mold or mildew during extended wet periods.
    Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Felicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felicitous. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on felicitous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster