Miraculous

adj.hopeful, joyfulwarm

What it means

Extraordinarily fortunate or wonderful, as if produced by a miracle.

Reach for it when describing a welcome outcome whose improbability inspires wonder

The hikers made a miraculous return shortly before the temperature fell.

playful
against-all-odds
when overcoming extreme improbability is the story
not when The phrase can turn a complex outcome into a dramatic slogan.
everyday
incredible
when the result is difficult to believe because it is so unusual
not when Incredible can literally mean not credible and is overused.
everyday
unexpected
when lack of prediction is the only supported claim
not when Unexpected can be minor and lacks the positive wonder of miraculous.
warm
astonishing
when surprise is intense and immediate
not when Astonishing does not carry gratitude or possible divine meaning.
professional
extraordinary
when something lies far outside ordinary expectation
not when Extraordinary can describe welcome or unwelcome departures from the ordinary.
professional
remarkable
when the event deserves attention without a supernatural claim
not when Remarkable is restrained and may understate extreme improbability.
formal
providential
when an event is understood as timely divine care
not when Providential makes a religious interpretation that may not be shared.
formal
seemingly impossible
when the prior difficulty should be emphasized without claiming impossibility
not when The phrase is still dramatic and may ignore the mechanisms that made success possible.
literary
wondrous
when wonder and beauty deserve an elevated tone
not when Wondrous sounds archaic and may be too decorative for a serious recovery.

miraculous recovery
The newspapers described her swift return as a miraculous recovery.
miraculous escape
A fallen beam created the narrow space for a miraculous escape.
seem miraculous
The repair may seem miraculous until the craft behind it is explained.

Miraculous can be literal within a faith tradition or figurative. It should not erase medical work, human effort, or another person's beliefs.