Serendipitous
What it means
Happening by happy and valuable chance.
Reach for it when describing a fortunate useful discovery or event that arose unexpectedly
A serendipitous meeting connected the inventor with a mentor.
Words to choose between 8
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
chance
Fits when accidental occurrence is the neutral fact
Careful Chance alone does not imply benefit.
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everyday
Fits when chance benefit suits informal speech
Careful Lucky can trivialize preparation that made use of the chance.
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everyday
unexpected
Fits when surprise is the only known property
Careful Unexpected events may be harmful.
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warm
Fits when favorable luck is the plain idea
Careful Fortunate need not involve a discovery.
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professional
Fits when timing is especially useful
Careful Opportune may be deliberate rather than accidental.
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formal
Fits when chance coincidence is central
Careful Fortuitous is often misread as simply favorable.
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formal
providential
Fits when remarkably timely good fortune suits a faith context
Careful Providential introduces divine purpose.
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literary
Fits when the event seems to promise future success
Careful Auspicious concerns signs and beginnings, not discovery.
Opposites 3
- unfortunate
- planned
- expected
Common phrases 3
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serendipitous discovery
A serendipitous discovery revealed the letters behind a loose panel.
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serendipitous encounter
Their serendipitous encounter led to a shared repair workshop.
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serendipitous moment
A serendipitous moment connected two researchers studying the same map.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated