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Synonyms

auspicious

American  
[aw-spish-uhs] / ɔˈspɪʃ əs /

adjective

  1. promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable.

    an auspicious occasion.

  2. favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate.


auspicious British  
/ ɔːˈspɪʃəs /

adjective

  1. favourable or propitious

  2. archaic prosperous or fortunate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

The use of auspicious to mean `very special' (as in this auspicious occasion ) should be avoided

Other Word Forms

  • auspiciously adverb
  • auspiciousness noun
  • unauspicious adjective
  • unauspiciously adverb

Etymology

Origin of auspicious

First recorded in 1600–10; equivalent to Latin auspici(um) auspice + -ous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was 1987, an auspicious time for investments of any kind.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is an unusually nuanced take on a subject that too often generates reflexive fulminating or fawning, and a truly auspicious start to the New Museum’s new chapter.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Christoffels, my dear associate,” Father murmured in his formal, old-fashioned way, “What joy to see you on this—er—auspicious day.”

From Literature

“Salesforce reports at an auspicious time for the software sector after it and other software stocks got slammed earlier this month by concerns about AI competition,” Mazzola said.

From Barron's

She planned to hang traditional Chinese couplets -- usually on auspicious red paper -- before sharing a family meal.

From Barron's