inauspiciously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inauspiciously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or situation that is unfavorable or ill-omened. Example: "The project began inauspiciously, with several technical difficulties arising on the first day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The PPP began life inauspiciously as a political fudge dreamt up by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a firm of accountants.

The Economist

IN THE year 15AD, during the short-lived Xin dynasty, a rumour spread that a yellow dragon, a symbol of the emperor, had inauspiciously crashed into a temple in the mountains of central China and died.

The Economist

The week started last Tuesday night with Sotheby's inauspiciously thin evening sale.

The Economist

Yesterday's meeting of European Union heads of government in Brussels started inauspiciously, when the Cypriot president was taken to hospital after a series of nosebleeds; caused, said doctors, by high blood pressure.

The Economist

The following year began inauspiciously.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The war started inauspiciously for Peter when King Charles XII of Sweden, disembarking suddenly on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, inflicted a severe defeat on the Russians before the fortress of Narva (November 1700).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He began the year inauspiciously with Gold Is Where You Find It, but then came The Adventures of Robin Hood, the studio's biggest commercial success of that year.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Affairs began inauspiciously for the Federals in Missouri when Nathaniel Lyon's 5,000 Union troops were defeated at Wilson's Creek on August 10 , 1861 by a Confederate force of more than 10,000 under Sterling Price and Benjamin McCulloch, each side losing some 1,200 men.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The South African spent 11 years with Leeds yet his love affair with the club started inauspiciously.

Independent

My guided tour of the future of television begins inauspiciously as I am shown to a meeting room in the BBC's Broadcast Centre dedicated to a Seventies comedy trio.

Independent

The event began inauspiciously when some of the players turned up in jeans and high heels, despite being asked to wear sports clothes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inauspiciously" to describe beginnings or events that suggest a negative future outcome. It adds a sense of foreboding or ill-fortune to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "inauspiciously" when the situation is merely inconvenient or slightly negative. The word implies a more significant or foreboding sense of misfortune than simple inconvenience.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "inauspiciously" primarily functions to modify verbs or clauses, describing the manner in which an action is performed or an event unfolds. Ludwig AI indicates the word is usable in written English, signaling that it serves to set a negative tone or expectation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Academia

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inauspiciously" is a grammatically sound adverb used to describe events that begin or occur with signs suggesting a negative future. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is frequently found in news and encyclopedic contexts, signaling a formal and neutral tone. While alternatives like "unfavorably" or "unfortunately" exist, "inauspiciously" carries a stronger sense of foreboding, making it ideal for situations where initial events strongly hint at potential misfortune. However, ensure its use is reserved for significantly negative beginnings rather than trivial inconveniences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unfavorably

Direct synonym, replacing "inauspiciously" with a simpler and more common word.

In an unpromising fashion

A more formal synonym highlighting the lack of positive prospects.

Unpromisingly

Highlights the lack of positive signs or potential for success.

With a discouraging start

Focuses specifically on the initial negative or disheartening aspect of an event.

Unfortunately

Focuses on the negative outcome or disappointment associated with the situation.

From a poor beginning

Similar to "with a discouraging start", emphasizing the negative nature of the initial phase.

With ill omen

Emphasizes the presence of bad omens or signs of misfortune.

In an unlucky manner

Highlights the element of bad luck or misfortune.

Under a bad sign

Similar to "with ill omen", highlighting negative astrological or symbolic influences.

Badly

A more general term indicating a negative or undesirable manner.

FAQs

How to use "inauspiciously" in a sentence?

Use "inauspiciously" to describe something that begins or occurs in a way that suggests bad luck or a negative outcome. For example: "The meeting began "inauspiciously" when the projector failed."

What can I say instead of "inauspiciously"?

You can use alternatives like "unfavorably", "unfortunately", or "unpromisingly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "inauspiciously" or "auspiciously"?

"Inauspiciously" means in a way that is not conducive to success, while "auspiciously" means in a way that suggests success is likely. They are antonyms.

What's the difference between "inauspiciously" and "unluckily"?

"Inauspiciously" suggests that events point towards a bad outcome, while "unluckily" simply implies that bad luck was involved. "Inauspiciously" carries a stronger sense of foreboding than "unluckily".