Inauspicious: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that suggests bad luck or an unpromising event. Often formal or literary.

• The old house had an inauspicious appearance, with broken windows and overgrown weeds.
• Their first meeting was rather inauspicious, filled with awkward silences.

Commonly used in everyday conversation to describe situations or events that result from bad luck.

• It was unlucky that it rained on the day of our picnic.
• He seemed to be unlucky in love, with each relationship ending quickly.

Used to indicate that something seems unlikely to be successful or beneficial. Often used in a business or project context.

• The project seemed unpromising, but we decided to give it a try.
• She took an unpromising start and turned it into a winning strategy.

A formal or literary term used to describe conditions or times that are not favorable or likely to lead to success.

• The weather was unpropitious for sailing, with strong winds and dark clouds.
• The investor decided to wait for a more propitious moment, as the current market conditions were unpropitious.