Synonyms of fortunate

fortunate

adjective

ˈfȯrch-nət 

1

as in lucky

coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

having good luck

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Advertisement My company is fortunate to provide in-house health care facilities staffed with qualified medical experts. —Dan Amos, Time, 4 Feb. 2026

The college baseball season is a grind and the team left standing, in many cases, will either be very fortunate to remain healthy or overcome the unforeseen to achieve the ultimate goal. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026

Wagner wasn’t as fortunate with his 7-iron shot, pulling it left into the rough (and scuffing the bottom of his club). —Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026

The Nuggets are more fortunate. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026