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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
  • Fortunately, there's usually plenty of pleasant autumn days after the first frost to tackle the remaining fall gardening tasks at a more leisurely rate.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Today the Moon in your sign is dancing with fair Venus creating pleasant feelings between you and everyone else.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Mokum variety, a Nantes type, is suitable for container growing since the orange roots are slim and shorter than some of the larger varieties, reaching six-to-eight inches in length.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
  • During the land use committee hearing, city property agent Tyler Garland said the five parcels are not suitable for multi-family housing and that no city department expressed interest in using them.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The result is luxuriously silky; a delightful foil to the crunchy graham cracker crust.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The sword and sorcery genre was always reliable for delightful low-budget cheese, with entries such as The Beastmaster, The Barbarians, and of course, the Deathstalker series.
    Bear McCreary, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Canada couldn’t be more appropriate to host the first Winter Games.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Always serve pumpkin in moderation and in an amount appropriate for the size of your pet.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Some even suggested delicious baking uses for the new treats.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Includes gardening tips to grow perfect perennials and chiles for every palate, plus articles on delicious Ukrainian food dishes and Christmas family traditions, banana recipe contest winners and practical life advice.
    Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The lawsuits involved dental extractions, some of which were full extractions, and/or the placement of implants that caused pain and were ill-fitting, according to court documents.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Wearing a well-fitting, high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces also can reduce the risk of contracting respiratory infections or spreading your illness to others.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Peak season is over, meaning the crowds are gone, the water feels calmer, the restaurants are more enjoyable, and the sunsets last just a little bit longer.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The period detail is impressive, the storytelling is engrossing, and the overall impact is pleasantly enjoyable.
    Joe Leydon, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • However, be sure to refer to your care label before determining the proper wash settings.
    Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Old Medications Regularly checking expiration dates in your fridge or pantry might already be a part of your cleaning routine, but that medicine cabinet full of little bottles could go years without a proper cleanout.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Felicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felicitous. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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