Definition of felicitousnext
1
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses a felicitous accompaniment to dinner is provided by a pianist on weekends at the restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective felicitous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of felicitous are appropriate, apt, fitting, fit, happy, meet, proper, and suitable. While all these words mean "right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance," felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When is appropriate a more appropriate choice than felicitous?

While in some cases nearly identical to felicitous, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

When might apt be a better fit than felicitous?

Although the words apt and felicitous have much in common, apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When would fit be a good substitute for felicitous?

The meanings of fit and felicitous largely overlap; however, fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

When could fitting be used to replace felicitous?

In some situations, the words fitting and felicitous are roughly equivalent. However, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to felicitous?

While the synonyms happy and felicitous are close in meaning, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

When is it sensible to use meet instead of felicitous?

The words meet and felicitous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When can proper be used instead of felicitous?

The synonyms proper and felicitous are sometimes interchangeable, but proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

In what contexts can suitable take the place of felicitous?

The words suitable and felicitous can be used in similar contexts, but suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

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 felicitous The screenplay that Gracey wrote with Simon Gleeson and Oliver Cole is less felicitous. Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024 And in one of those felicitous culinary accidents like the Toll House cookie, wound up with a gluten-free product. Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024 Pebble Beach was not a felicitous meeting of land and sea. Doug Ferguson, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 Ellis-Bextor now joins Kate Bush in the league of criminally underrated British singers who have received a late-career reappraisal thanks to a felicitous TV or film sync. Vulture, 11 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for felicitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felicitous
Adjective
  • The temptation to go with Krick’s more pleasant (and somehow more spiritually American) forecast is obviously great.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • Walker Buehler has been a pleasant and necessary surprise, even providing the Padres with the occasional quality start.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • The days of that being a suitable workaround might be in the rearview mirror.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • When sediment flow is disrupted, riverbeds can be simplified and less suitable for spawning, while altered temperatures and flow reduce habitat diversity.
    Radina Gigova, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Raspberries work well in a variety of desserts and dishes, especially when mixed in with other berries to create a delightful fusion of color and flavor.
    Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • Domingo and Fey get snarky, a clever visual gag earns a surprise laugh, the dialogue is sharper than usual, and the main pairings get jumbled up with purposeful, delightful results.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Sitting at home with his wife and children, Wildmon tried to find something appropriate for his family to watch on TV.
    Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
  • Roberts' defense asserted in its May 22 sentencing brief, unsealed Wednesday, that probation rather than prison time would be appropriate.
    Kyle Werner, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • This is blended with fresh herbs and spices, for a result that is savory and delicious.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • Our food is delicious and healthy.
    Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • But any relief or celebration was muted by news far too fitting for the 2026 Tigers.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • To finally know her true lineage is to understand that fitting in was never in the cards for her.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • This doesn't mean disruption is enjoyable or easy.
    Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
  • The conversation with Graciela was enjoyable, fluent, sometimes very emotional.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • With proper storage, liquor and liqueur can generally last indefinitely.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • But most enterprises scaling the tech today are doing so absent proper guardrails.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Felicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felicitous. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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