felicitous

adjective

fi-ˈli-sə-təs How to pronounce felicitous (audio)
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
as in suitable
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation the museum's restaurant is featuring a French menu as a felicitous complement to the current show on French Impressionism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Pebble Beach was not a felicitous meeting of land and sea. —Doug Ferguson, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 That breadth is a felicitous analog to the roaming comedy of the script. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 5 Jan. 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 A couple of bright, shining hours can endow a day with a felicitous look and feel. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2023 See All Example Sentences for felicitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for felicitous
  1. pleasant
  2. suitable
  3. delightful
  4. appropriate
  5. delicious
  6. fitting
  7. proper
  8. pleasing
Adjective
  • Like, so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Like so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart.
    — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 July 2025
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • Near And Far The Near Field Mode is suitable for use at a computer desk where spatial accuracy and proximity immersion are essential.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • In June, The Athletic explained whether Watkins was suitable for United or not.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • The amount of allergy-inducing pollen is minimal, and the pollinator population benefits from the delightful oasis.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2025
  • There are many ways to freshen your fridge naturally, and using an orange is an especially delightful way.
    — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 July 2025
Definition of delightful
Adjective
  • King, a House member of 12 years, said both the tenor and the substance of Thompson's remarks were appropriate for the moment.
    — John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • Treatment: Timely intervention with appropriate treatments can increase the odds of regrowth, especially for conditions like alopecia areata.4 Various treatments are available for those seeking to regrow hair after alopecia.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 29 July 2025
Definition of appropriate
Adjective
  • And the vistas of sea and cityscape are as delicious as the food.
    — Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • Poaching an egg is one of the healthiest ways to cook an egg, not to mention one of the most delicious.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • The many tributes pouring in honoring Ed Feulner -- founder, trustee, and longest-serving president of the Heritage Foundation -- are both fitting and deeply meaningful to those of us who wake up every day honored to advance the Heritage mission.
    — Bridget Weisenburger, National Review, 25 July 2025
  • Wear long sleeves and pants, light colors and loose fitting shirts to guard against bites.
    — Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025
Definition of fitting
Adjective
  • Women being dismissed by their healthcare providers is another culprit, says Tran, and without proper exams and X-rays, the disease goes undetected.
    — Marnie Goodfriend, Flow Space, 25 July 2025
  • The trooper found no proper registration for the vehicle.
    — Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • Additionally, concrete probably feels nice for felines, with its rough but not harsh surface that appears to provide a pleasing tactile experience for cats looking to get a quick scratch in.
    — Kelli Bender, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • The pleasing back-to-basics feel in The Fantastic Four: First Steps suggests Marvel has learned valuable lessons from its recent box office underperformers.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2025
Definition of pleasing

Browse Nearby Words

felicities
felicitous
felicitously
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Cite this Entry

“Felicitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/felicitous. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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