as in lucky
coming or happening by good luck especially unexpectedly
winning the lottery could not have come at a more providential time for the recently laid-off worker
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 providential
Russia’s longstanding pursuit of a global position beyond its means—its aspiration to be a providential power, with a special mission in the world—has led it, again and again, to autocratic rule.
—
WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
Meacham bids to be the redeemer in chief of the narrative of American exceptionalism: the venerable if now-shopworn story in which the United States has a providential and world-historic role as a nation distinctively dedicated to human liberty.
—John Fabian Witt, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022
Her support in polls steadily expanded from 4 percent in 2018 to 25 percent in a country where even moderate voters have grown numb to Fascist-Communist name calling, but remain enthusiastic about new, and potentially providential, leaders.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Helping to weave all those strands into a single, elegant narrative is an Emory University astrochemist with a providential name: Susanna Widicus Weaver.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
See All Example Sentences for providential
WSJ, 4 Nov. 2022
Meacham bids to be the redeemer in chief of the narrative of American exceptionalism: the venerable if now-shopworn story in which the United States has a providential and world-historic role as a nation distinctively dedicated to human liberty.
—John Fabian Witt, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022
Her support in polls steadily expanded from 4 percent in 2018 to 25 percent in a country where even moderate voters have grown numb to Fascist-Communist name calling, but remain enthusiastic about new, and potentially providential, leaders.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2022
Helping to weave all those strands into a single, elegant narrative is an Emory University astrochemist with a providential name: Susanna Widicus Weaver.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2011
See All Example Sentences for providential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for providential
Adjective
-
Feeling lucky on Friday the 13 th ?—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
June was of those adults a few lucky teens sometimes meet, the ones who help to shine a few lights on the life pathways most upbringings leave dark.—
Jody Mamone,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Both these unfortunate stories, like everything in this film, there’s something kind of fortunate about them too.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
And that was certainly fortunate.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Benito’s reps confirmed in a press release that the happy couple wasn’t just an act for the show.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn’s comeback is in some ways the perfect Olympic story—happy ending be-damned.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sundance’s move to Boulder is coinciding with a fortuitous moment in the specialty film space, with an uptick in post-pandemic interest from younger moviegoers.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The timing for Utah is also fortuitous, as this is a temporary situation regarding the salary match for Jackson.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Summer interest from Roma, also owned by The Friedkin Group, was described as more coincidental, even though the clubs in theory use the same data bank.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But maybe that’s coincidental, or this is being planned.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Providential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/providential. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
