as in lucky
coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly
winning the lottery could not have come at a more providential time for the recently laid-off worker
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Recent Examples of providential
Russia’s longstanding pursuit of a global position beyond its means—its aspiration to be a providential power, with a special mission in the world—has led it, again and again, to autocratic rule.
—
WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
Meacham bids to be the redeemer in chief of the narrative of American exceptionalism: the venerable if now-shopworn story in which the United States has a providential and world-historic role as a nation distinctively dedicated to human liberty.
—John Fabian Witt, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022
Her support in polls steadily expanded from 4 percent in 2018 to 25 percent in a country where even moderate voters have grown numb to Fascist-Communist name calling, but remain enthusiastic about new, and potentially providential, leaders.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Helping to weave all those strands into a single, elegant narrative is an Emory University astrochemist with a providential name: Susanna Widicus Weaver.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
See All Example Sentences for providential
WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
Meacham bids to be the redeemer in chief of the narrative of American exceptionalism: the venerable if now-shopworn story in which the United States has a providential and world-historic role as a nation distinctively dedicated to human liberty.
—John Fabian Witt, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022
Her support in polls steadily expanded from 4 percent in 2018 to 25 percent in a country where even moderate voters have grown numb to Fascist-Communist name calling, but remain enthusiastic about new, and potentially providential, leaders.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Helping to weave all those strands into a single, elegant narrative is an Emory University astrochemist with a providential name: Susanna Widicus Weaver.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
See All Example Sentences for providential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for providential
Adjective
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Dim antique lighting, picture frames covering every inch of the walls, and a centralized bar filled with buzzy characters sit at the heart of a room anchored by a few coveted tables, where leaning in and brushing shoulders with a lucky counterpart is inevitable.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
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There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Harbaugh and the Chargers seem equally fortunate to land McDaniel, an ideal candidate for the crucial job of directing Herbert’s career into something worthy of his prodigious talent.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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Although the overall economy grows faster than inflation most of the time, small business has not been so fortunate.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Needless to say, the league and other owners weren’t happy with the 34% of $84 million annually that had come out of the bankruptcy proceedings, but the Dodgers pointed out that those terms were driven by court proceedings.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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No home videos from happier days, now tinged with the ominousness of a tragedy in the making.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Gutlove came to Japan by a rather fortuitous route.—
Akiko Katayama,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
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On’s first time on court (less acrylic, more polished hardwood) is nothing short of fortuitous, considering it was powered by a shoe that’s been co-created with Roger Federer.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The timing may not be coincidental.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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Any resemblance to real-life movements of the mid-20th century that edged into being considered cults was, er, coincidental.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Providential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/providential. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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