adjective

inauspicious

ih-naw-SPIH-shuhs

Inauspicious (adjective) means suggesting that things will not go well; not a good sign. Example: “The team's season got off to an inauspicious start with three straight losses.”

adjective

Suggesting that things will not go well; not a good sign.

"The team's season got off to an inauspicious start with three straight losses."

How to use inauspicious

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot a good omen — suggests bad luck or a poor beginning.

Easily confused with

auspicious →

Common pairings

inauspicious start inauspicious beginning

Word forms

more inauspicious comparative, most inauspicious superlative

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The team's season got off to an _____ start with three straight losses.

Etymology

From in- plus auspicious.

Synonyms

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unfortunate

Related words

lucky unfortunate fortunate prosperous unlucky

Rhymes for inauspicious

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

See all rhymes for inauspicious →

Frequently asked questions

What does “inauspicious” mean?

The word “inauspicious” means suggesting that things will not go well; not a good sign. In plain terms, not a good omen — suggests bad luck or a poor beginning.

How do you pronounce “inauspicious”?

“Inauspicious” is pronounced ih-naw-SPIH-shuhs (/ˌɪnɔːˈspɪʃəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “inauspicious” in a sentence?

Here is “inauspicious” used in a sentence: “The team's season got off to an inauspicious start with three straight losses.”

What part of speech is “inauspicious”?

“Inauspicious” is an adjective.

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