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 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 That breadth is a felicitous analog to the roaming comedy of the script. —Scott Hocker, theweek, 5 Jan. 2024 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. enjoyable
  8. proper
Adjective
  • Dry, pleasant weather returns over the weekend for Valentine's Day, with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s, light winds and mostly sunny skies.
    — Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • If this feels outside of your comfort zone, opt for a simple, pleasant one-line opening.
    — Outside, Outside, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • In addition, invest in a professional headshot (often available through career development offices) and begin assembling a versatile professional wardrobe suitable for interviews and a variety of workplace settings.
    — Micki Meyer, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
  • This ultimately means that a suitable cathode must still be paired with it to create a complete battery cell.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of suitable
Adjective
  • But like all good soapy murders, a body—the maid of honor’s—soon (literally) washes up, plunging the entire wedding party into delightful whodunit mayhem.
    — Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Pay a little attention to the principles of balance and use the right stuff, however, and the Cosmopolitan becomes an absolutely delightful drink, juicy with citrus, bright with cranberry, surprisingly strong and impressively clean.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of delightful
Adjective
  • Some growers have also started to focus more on roses that are appropriate to their local climates, Kukielski says.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Observing the relationship between parental contact with their children and the payment of child support obligations, facilitate and encourage parental access and involvement (when appropriate).
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of appropriate
Adjective
  • Thanks in advance for your participation in making this year’s roster the most voted on yet — and for helping to keep our city delicious.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Southern Living’s recipe catalog is proof that there are countless delicious ways to cook up a breakfast casserole, but for some reason, this Cheesy Sausage-And-Croissant Casserole has stuck with our family.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of delicious
Adjective
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
  • This goal, this moment, was a fitting reward for his patience and dedication.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of fitting
Adjective
  • Belfast is an enjoyable enough place to visit, but Derry still feels like home.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The final verdict Across the solar system, there are plenty of worlds that have ice, snow and even impressive slopes, but only one has the three working together that allows for enjoyable skiing.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of enjoyable
Adjective
  • Hunting groups say this is an overestimation of deer numbers, and that the organization has never had a proper management plan.
    — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Darn Tough Hiker Merino Wool Crew Socks Whether hot or cold, the proper cushioned sock can help regulate temperature in shoes and keep your feet extra comfortable.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of proper

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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 16 Feb. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of felicitous for Spanish Speakers

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