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

Echard, then 28 and a former NFL athlete, had ended his season 26 run on the popular ABC series as an unfavorable lead, to say the least.

— Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
For example, a retiree with sufficient cash value might use it to supplement other assets rather than selling investments during an unfavorable market period.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of unfavorable

Adjective

From those unpromising beginnings, Ondaatje found, in his writing, newness and, in language, a certain freedom.

— Amitava Kumar, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of unpromising

Adjective

One of the more disheartening developments for the Eagles has been their complete inability to generate productive drives upon returning from halftime.

— Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Amid disheartening and disruptive school closures and thousands of position cuts districts have been forced to implement due to million-dollar budget shortfalls, vacancies have continued to climb.

— Andrew Spar, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

Johnston, who made his breakout performance as the toxically hopeless romantic Bear in Curry Barker’s Obsession, has most recently been in talks to join Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz in the upcoming fourth installment of The Mummy.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
For all the apocalyptic overtones in the film, Gibney doesn’t want audiences to come away feeling hopeless.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 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

Horror audiences are also notoriously unpredictable, and a dismal CinemaScore doesn’t automatically guarantee an equally dismal theatrical run.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
Hochul has emphasized Blakeman’s ties to Trump — mirroring much of the Democrats’ national strategy for the midterm elections — hoping the president’s dismal approval ratings help sink her Republican foe at the ballot box.

— Sagar Meghani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismal

Adjective

Trump spent much of the first half of the rally — just 25 days before midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans can keep control of Congress — trying to talk past Americans’ gloomy feelings about the economy.

— Sagar Meghani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
The Cathcarts’ office is gloomy and dark, while the Taylor & Byrne rooms are filled with light and air.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 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 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unpropitious

adjective

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