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

Both Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts and his independent challenger, Dan Osborn, have net unfavorable views from the electorate, according to the CNBC Voter Poll.

— Justin Papp,Caleigh Keating,Garrett Downs,Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
State of the race Bass has struggled with unfavorable ratings in the wake of the January 2025 firestorm.

— Times staff, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 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

The charges were filed less than two weeks before the midterm election, breaking with longstanding DOJ guidance discouraging actions that could affect upcoming political races.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Conventional wisdom suggests such discouraging numbers would depress turnout.

— Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of discouraging

Adjective

The Washington Commanders had just under two weeks to sit with their disheartening start to the season before their matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026
Pretty disheartening and hard not to blame Google for forcing AI on all users/introducing the summaries in the first place!

— Cooper Katz McKim, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of disheartening

Adjective

But Texans also have something to teach the country about digging in and fighting for a seemingly hopeless cause; conservatives aren’t the only ones who remember the Alamo.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026
Owens not only lacked an undergraduate degree but did poorly in school, where she was described as a hopeless case.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 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

At Hill Street bar, close to the downtown criminal courthouse where McKinney has built his career, supporters swayed to smooth jazz and Top 40 radio hits, nursing cocktails and betraying no reaction to the dismal early returns.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
The recent collapse of Brazil’s stock market following leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection has extended a dismal run for Latin American equities, and analysts held out little hope for an imminent rebound.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of dismal

Adjective

Yet voters are headed to the polls Tuesday largely gloomy over an economy beset by higher prices.

— Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
The brutal cold of Sweden’s winters is well documented, but Stockholm has a knack for bringing some special magic even to its gloomiest season.

— Isabelle Kliger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of unpropitious

adjective

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