UNPROPITIOUS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

unpropitious

adjective

Definition of unpropitious

as in unfavorable

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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

El Nino conditions often suppress tropical activity during the Atlantic hurricane season by producing unfavorable atmospheric winds.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
About half of Democrats overall have a favorable impression of Mamdani and only about 1 in 10 have an unfavorable view of him, while the rest, about 39%, don’t have an opinion.

— Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 7 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

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
Though 2025 was a disappointing five-loss campaign that opened with a disheartening 34-7 defeat at USF and ended in similar fashion (38-10) against Washington in the LA Bowl, Spencer Danielson’s Broncos nonetheless won another Mountain West title.

— Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

Waymo’s fleet of autonomous taxis has garnered a reputation for causing mayhem on public streets, from trapping drivers in hours of hopeless gridlock to driving into oncoming traffic.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 8 July 2026
Released in theaters on May 15, Obsession follows the harrowing path of Bear (Johnston), a lovelorn music store employee who has a hopeless crush on his co-worker, Nikki (Navarrette).

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 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

The Packers had just seven interceptions in 2025, which ranked a dismal 28th in the NFL.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
The Marlins led 8-0 at the time of his exit and survived dismal outings by relievers Lake Bachar and Peter Fairbanks to win 9-8 and sweep the series, capping a 7-3 road trip.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of dismal

Adjective

Despite that gloomier outlook, consumers have largely kept spending, helping support economic growth.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
The gloomy Jersey skies and rain didn’t deter fans — who were mostly in white English kits — from supporting The Three Lions in the match, one that felt like a game at Wembley Stadium considering the UK-like elements.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Definition of gloomy

Browse Nearby Words

unprompted

unpropitious

unprosperous

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unpropitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpropitious. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unpropitious

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes