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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fortuitous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of fortuitous are accidental, casual, and contingent. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

When is it sensible to use accidental instead of fortuitous?

The meanings of accidental and fortuitous largely overlap; however, accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

When might casual be a better fit than fortuitous?

While in some cases nearly identical to fortuitous, casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When could contingent be used to replace fortuitous?

Although the words contingent and fortuitous have much in common, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

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 fortuitous There's a lot of things that have to become fortuitous for that — a lot of commitment, a lot of time. Angela Andaloro, People.com, 27 May 2025 But a fortuitous mistake ushered the ingredient into mainstream skincare when a patient prescribed oral tranexamic acid experienced skin lightening as a side effect. Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 8 May 2025 In contrast, through what was likely a combination of fortuitous assignments and savvy politicking, Xi started with ties to four out of ten CMC members—a leg up that gave him the latitude to start a wide-ranging purge of rival elites and reorder the military brass. Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025 The seashell with the fortuitous hole that allowed it to be strung around your neck would crack; the thin chain bracelets wrapped around your ankle always got lost in the dunes. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fortuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortuitous
Adjective
  • Boone’s squad is still fortunate enough to be in playoff position, as the Yankees are in possession of the third and final Wild Card spot.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Hank seems to be in fine physical health outside of the standard aches and pains and narrow urethra, but Bobby has reached that stage of young adulthood when those fortunate enough to still have their parents start to confront the reality that that won’t always be the case.
    Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • An accidental entrepreneur Epic’s Deep Space Auditorium.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Finally, the rules have been tweaked for accidental ‘double-touch’ penalties.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Russo, who's written more than a dozen books, appeared to be as happy as if anyone else had said this to him.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • While longtime fans of the ship are still mourning the loss of the SS United States to the bottom of the ocean, some were happy with the new museum design update.
    Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Pierson’s rise, powered in part by promoting her one-time net worth estimate from Forbes, almost led her into an unexpected deal… Forbes itself.
    Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • When an unexpected request comes from a dissident singer in hiding, his solitude and routine is broken — and so is to an extent his passivity.
    Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Sabrina Carpenter is loosening her leash on Man’s Best Friend ahead of its release date, with the pop star playing the album for a group of lucky fans who got to hear it before the rest of the world at an exclusive event on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The rest of us, with our own sui generis cultural fantasies and preferences, should be so lucky.
    Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Economic Catalyst The timing isn’t coincidental.
    Kristen Classi-Zummo, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • The magic number of three — however coincidental and inaccurate — was too much for the internet to resist.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fortuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortuitous. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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