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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishNot a good omen — suggests bad luck or a poor beginning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inauspicious start
inauspicious beginning
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more inauspicious
- Superlative
- most inauspicious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team's season got off to an _____ start with three straight losses.
Etymology
From in- plus auspicious.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for inauspicious
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.
