Synonym Chooser

How is the word providential different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of providential are fortunate, happy, and lucky. While all these words mean "meeting with unforeseen success," providential more definitely implies the help or intervention of a higher power.

a providential change in the weather

When is fortunate a more appropriate choice than providential?

While the synonyms fortunate and providential are close in meaning, fortunate suggests being rewarded beyond one's deserts.

fortunate in my investments

How is happy related to other words for providential?

Happy combines the implications of lucky and fortunate with stress on being blessed.

a series of happy accidents

In what contexts can lucky take the place of providential?

The meanings of lucky and providential largely overlap; however, lucky stresses the agency of chance in bringing about a favorable result.

won because of a lucky bounce

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 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 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 Many a past biographer has observed that Lincoln understood himself as an actor in a providential drama. John Fabian Witt, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 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 See All Example Sentences for providential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for providential
Adjective
  • Other projects, however, might not be so fortunate.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 July 2025
  • Meche was in a very fortunate situation financially.
    Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • The fact remains that dogs absolutely thrive on high-quality food and need it to keep them happy and healthy.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • For his part, Aaron was happy that wasn’t an option.
    Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Italy haven’t had a straightforward journey here and can count themselves lucky to make the knockouts after winning just one game in the group stage, which was rounded off with a 3-1 loss to Spain.
    Oli Gamp, New York Times, 22 July 2025
  • So by any measure, most of us in this country—especially rock stars like me—are very lucky.
    Amanda Castro Gabe Whisnant Anna Commander Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • The timing of the sale ultimately proved fortuitous as the M&A market cooled significantly in subsequent years.
    Megan Bruneau, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Today’s businesspeople appear to be more directly inspired by the actor Ryan Reynolds’s fortuitous investment in Mint Mobile, another MVNO, which sold for more than $1 billion in 2023.
    Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • The choice of name was coincidental but Lee and Kirby were anxious to avoid any connection to radical politics.
    Ekow Eshun July 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
  • This incident came during an ugly coincidental 72-hour period involving a trio of former Cowboys players.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Providential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/providential. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on providential

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