unpropitious

Unpropitious is an adjective meaning not giving or indicating a good chance of success; unfavorable or adverse. It describes events, conditions, or plans that are unlikely to achieve a desirable outcome, as well as signs that foretell ill fortune.

Etymology: the word combines the prefix un- with propitious, from Latin propitius meaning favorable or inclined to help. The sense emerged in English in the early modern period and remains primarily formal or literary.

Usage: Unpropitious is more common in written or formal registers than in ordinary conversation. It tends to describe circumstances rather than people, and is often applied to weather, prospects, decisions, or the trajectory of a project.

Examples: The unpropitious weather forced the expedition to delay. The team faced an unpropitious start to the season, with injuries and inconsistent performance.

Related terms include propitious, auspicious, and favorable; antonyms include propitious and favorable in contexts where a positive outcome is expected. In practice, unpropitious is used to convey a judgment that conditions are unlikely to yield a successful result, often with a slightly literary or historical tone.