UNPROPITIOUS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

unpropitious

adjective

Definition of unpropitious

as in unfavorable

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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 unpropitious Handing the baton to Harris at this unpropitious time for Democrats is like Napoleon’s handing off his military command to Marshal Ney to conduct the disastrous French retreat from Moscow in 1812, featuring 500,000 French casualties. — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024 The exhausted refugees are greeted by a functionary of the Relief Committee with the unpropitious nickname Statistics Babu. — Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022 JoyFish sits in a strip mall in an unpropitious space that has seen several restaurants come and go. — Tan Vinh, The Seattle Times, 11 July 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpropitious

Adjective

Organizations explain poor results by pointing to staffing shortages, difficult patients, unfavorable markets, or imperfect measures.

— Basel Tarab, STAT, 22 July 2026
The storm is not currently forecast to strengthen into a hurricane due to unfavorable environmental conditions.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Definition of unfavorable

Adjective

The surprising discovery awaiting us below the thicket of its atmosphere has quashed the notion that worlds far from the Sun are unpromising destinations in the search for life-supporting environments.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 May 2026
ADCs were once widely viewed as an unpromising technology, but Daiichi Sankyo’s success has revived interest and intensified competition across the industry.

— PwC Consulting LLC Contributor, Forbes.com, 11 May 2026

Definition of unpromising

Adjective

Tracy provided another discouraging injury update over the weekend in Anaheim as well, telling reporters that first baseman Triston Casas suffered yet another setback and has been shut down from hitting due to a wrist issue.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026
Still, this was a discouraging result for anyone wearing yellow in Kansas City.

— Kellis Robinett, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026

Definition of discouraging

Adjective

That process repeats over and over and can be very disheartening to the team.

— Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Still, during a summer when the Tigers are trying to resuscitate their season after a disheartening May, process creates only so much comfort.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

Johnston made his breakout performance as the toxically hopeless romantic Bear in Curry Barker’s Obsession, which has become Focus Features’ highest grossing title ever, surpassing $300M globally last month.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 July 2026
As the years speed forward, a new round of violence will force these characters into a final confrontation with the challenge of building a hopeless future together.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

The storm let up before daybreak, but the morning was gray and cheerless with a cold wind.

— Elwyn "Bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Gomez gestured across the street toward 100 Centre Street—the criminal courthouse, a cheerless Art Deco building the color of cinder blocks.

— Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025

Definition of cheerless

Adjective

Typically, manufacturing these diamond processors has been inefficient, with industry conversion yields hovering around a dismal one percent to 10 percent.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
The dismal winter snowpack that resulted in a disappointing ski season has now translated to statewide drought.

— Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 July 2026

Definition of dismal

Adjective

In a gloomy prologue, casual conversations between Punjab police officers precipitate equally casual executions by moonlight, under the pretext of curbing terror.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Despite any accolades that may have come, the environment for an independent artist seemed gloomier than ever.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2026

Definition of gloomy

Browse Nearby Words

unprompted

unpropitious

unprosperous

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“Unpropitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpropitious. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unpropitious

adjective

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