Synonyms of Favourable: Meanings, Usage, and Mastery in English

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2. INTRODUCTION

A rich vocabulary is a cornerstone of effective communication in English, whether you are writing a formal report, giving a presentation, or engaging in everyday conversation. One word that frequently appears across different contexts is favourable. Understanding the synonyms of “favourable” is essential for expressing yourself with precision, avoiding unnecessary repetition, and demonstrating advanced fluency. Whether you are an English language learner, teacher, writer, or professional, mastering these synonyms will empower you to communicate more accurately and persuasively.

This comprehensive article provides an in-depth exploration of “favourable” and its synonyms. We will examine their definitions, grammatical roles, usage contexts, collocations, intensity, and subtle differences.

You will find categorized lists, clear explanations, numerous example sentences, tables for easy comparison, and practical exercises to reinforce your learning. By the end, you will have the tools to use “favourable” and its synonyms with confidence and sophistication in any English setting.

Below is a detailed table of contents to guide your learning journey.

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Does “Favourable” Mean?

Favourable is an adjective used to describe something that is positive, advantageous, beneficial, or likely to produce a good result. It can refer to opinions, situations, conditions, responses, or outcomes that are supportive, approving, or beneficial.

Etymology: “Favourable” derives from the Middle English word favorable, from Old French favorable, based on Latin favorem (favor, goodwill).

Historical Usage: “Favourable” has been used in English since at least the 14th century, often in contexts relating to weather, opinions, or conditions.

Table 1: Definitions of “Favourable” Across Major Dictionaries
Dictionary Definition Example
Oxford Expressing approval; giving an advantage; positive or beneficial A favourable review
Cambridge Showing or expressing a good opinion; making something more likely to succeed Favourable weather conditions
Merriam-Webster Marked by approval; advantageous; tending to promote or contribute to success A favourable outcome
Collins Advantageous or beneficial; expressing approval or support He gave a favourable impression

3.2. Grammatical Classification

“Favourable” functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns and typically appears before a noun (attributive position) or after a linking verb (predicative position).

  • Attributive: The committee gave a favourable report.
  • Predicative: The weather is favourable for our trip.

It can be graded for comparison:

Table 2: “Favourable” in Comparative and Superlative Forms
Form Example
Positive The results were favourable.
Comparative The results were more favourable than expected.
Superlative This is the most favourable outcome.

3.3. Core Functions and Usage Contexts

“Favourable” is used to describe:

  • Conditions: Favourable weather, favourable circumstances
  • Opinions/Responses: Favourable impression, favourable review
  • Outcomes: Favourable result, favourable verdict

Collocations: “Favourable” often pairs with nouns such as conditions, response, impression, environment, outcome, climate.

Formality: “Favourable” is generally neutral to formal and is suitable for both spoken and written English.

3.4. The Role of Synonyms in English

Using synonyms: Adds variety, prevents repetition, and allows for more precise expression. For example, “beneficial” emphasizes helpfulness, while “promising” highlights positive potential.

Synonyms vs. Related Words: Not all related words are direct synonyms. For instance, “supportive” implies approval or help, but may not always mean “favourable” in terms of producing a good outcome.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Morphological Structure of “Favourable” and Its Synonyms

“Favourable” is formed by adding the suffix -able to the root “favour”. Many synonyms follow similar patterns:

  • Advantageous: advantage + -ous
  • Beneficial: benefit + -ial
  • Supportive: support + -ive
  • Promising: promise + -ing

Prefixes: The prefix un- forms the antonym “unfavourable”.

Word Formation: Most synonyms are adjectives, but some can also function as participles (e.g., “promising”).

4.2. Syntactic Patterns

“Favourable” and its synonyms most commonly appear:

  • Attributive: A favourable decision
  • Predicative: The outcome was favourable

Modifiers: Intensifiers like very, extremely, quite can modify most synonyms: very favourable, quite beneficial.

4.3. Collocation Patterns

Certain nouns, verbs, and prepositions frequently appear with “favourable” and its synonyms.

Table 3: Collocation Matrix for “Favourable” and Key Synonyms
Adjective Common Nouns Common Verbs Common Prepositions
favourable conditions, impression, outcome, review give, receive, appear to, for
beneficial effect, result, change, relationship prove, be, become to, for
advantageous position, terms, deal, arrangement be, seem to, for
supportive family, environment, boss, friend be, remain of
promising career, future, start, results look, seem for

4.4. Register and Tone

Some synonyms are more formal (e.g., advantageous, beneficial), while others are neutral or informal (e.g., good, supportive).

  • Academic/business English: Favourable, advantageous, beneficial
  • Conversational English: Good, promising, supportive

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES OF SYNONYMS

5.1. Positive Outcome Synonyms

  • Beneficial
  • Advantageous
  • Profitable
  • Rewarding
  • Productive

5.2. Approval or Support Synonyms

  • Supportive
  • Approving
  • Sympathetic
  • Encouraging
  • Affirming

5.3. Pleasantness or Agreeableness Synonyms

  • Agreeable
  • Pleasant
  • Congenial
  • Enjoyable
  • Gracious

5.4. Probability or Likelihood Synonyms

  • Promising
  • Auspicious
  • Hopeful
  • Opportune
  • Propitious

5.5. Context-Specific Synonyms

  • Profitable (business, finance)
  • Constructive (feedback, criticism)
  • Salubrious (health, environment)
  • Conducive (conditions, environments)
  • Well-disposed (legal, formal)

5.6. Intensity/Strength of Meaning

Table 4: Synonyms Categorized by Intensity
Intensity Synonyms
Mild Agreeable, good, pleasant
Moderate Advantageous, beneficial, supportive
Strong Profitable, auspicious, opportune

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Example Sentences

Here are example sentences using “favourable” and some of its most common synonyms:

Table 5: Basic Synonyms with Example Sentences
Synonym Example Sentence
favourable The weather was favourable for sailing.
beneficial Regular exercise is beneficial to your health.
advantageous An early start is often advantageous.
supportive Her family was very supportive during her studies.
promising The project had a promising beginning.
auspicious It was an auspicious day for the wedding.
agreeable The climate in that region is quite agreeable.
pleasant We had a pleasant conversation over lunch.
profitable The investment proved profitable for the company.
constructive She gave constructive feedback on my essay.

6.2. Contextual Examples by Category

Table 6: Example Sentences for Each Category
Category Example
Positive Outcome The new policy will have beneficial effects.
Approval/Support The manager gave an approving nod.
Pleasantness The atmosphere was congenial.
Likelihood The results are promising so far.
Context-Specific This is a profitable contract for both sides.

6.3. Formal vs. Informal Usage Examples

Table 7: Formal vs. Informal Synonym Examples
Register Example Sentence
Formal The agreement is advantageous to our company.
Informal This deal looks good for us.
Formal We received a favourable evaluation from the board.
Informal The boss gave us a thumbs up.

6.4. Collocation Examples

Table 8: Collocations with “Favourable” and Synonyms
Adjective Collocation Example
favourable Favourable conditions for growth
beneficial Beneficial relationship
advantageous Advantageous position
supportive Supportive environment
promising Promising future
auspicious Auspicious occasion
  • The weather forecast is favourable for the marathon.
  • Eating vegetables is beneficial to your health.
  • It is advantageous to learn a second language.
  • My parents are always supportive of my decisions.
  • The student’s future looks promising.
  • They signed a profitable deal last year.
  • Our manager provided constructive criticism.
  • The jury was well-disposed towards the defendant.
  • We had a very congenial meeting.
  • The timing was extremely opportune.

6.5. Comparative Examples

Table 9: Side-by-Side Comparisons of Synonym Usage
Sentence 1 Sentence 2 Difference
The climate is favourable for wine production. The climate is beneficial for your health. “Favourable” = suitable for a purpose; “beneficial” = good for health
The company made an advantageous deal. The company made a profitable deal. “Advantageous” = strategic benefit; “profitable” = financial gain
He made a supportive comment. He made an approving comment. “Supportive” = helpful/encouraging; “approving” = expressing approval
The signs are promising. The signs are auspicious. “Promising” = likely to succeed; “auspicious” = lucky/fortunate

6.6. Extended Paragraph Examples

The research team encountered favourable conditions for their experiment, which proved highly beneficial for their results. The weather, in particular, was advantageous, allowing them to collect all necessary data. Their supervisor was supportive throughout the process, offering constructive feedback. The project’s promising start led to an auspicious outcome, and the entire group found the experience both pleasant and rewarding.

Entering the new market, the company sought favourable terms, hoping for an advantageous position. The initial response from local businesses was supportive, and the economic climate appeared promising. Management was optimistic that their investment would be profitable and looked forward to a beneficial partnership.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. When to Use Each Synonym

  • Favourable: Use for general positive outcomes, conditions, or opinions.
  • Beneficial: Use for health, effects, or when stressing helpfulness.
  • Advantageous: Use for situations involving strategic or competitive benefits.
  • Supportive: Use for people, environments, or actions that help or encourage.
  • Promising: Use for potential, future outcomes, or opportunities.
  • Auspicious: Use for lucky or fortunate signs/events (often formal).

7.2. Register and Appropriateness

  • Formal: Advantageous, beneficial, auspicious, propitious
  • Neutral: Favourable, promising, supportive
  • Informal: Good, nice, positive

7.3. Grammatical Agreement and Patterns

  • Adjectives agree in number with plural nouns: favourable conditions, beneficial effects.
  • Placement: Usually before a noun or after linking verbs.
  • Modifiers: Very, extremely, quite can be used for emphasis.

7.4. Collocation Restrictions

Table 10: Synonym Collocation Compatibility
Synonym Typical Collocations Not Recommended With
favourable conditions, response, outcome, review person (rarely: “favourable person”)
beneficial effect, relationship, change person, opinion
advantageous position, deal, terms, offer weather, impression
supportive person, family, environment weather, outcome
promising future, start, career, signs weather, impression

7.5. Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Promising is not used for past events (“The weather was promising” implies future potential).
  • Auspicious is formal and often reserved for events, not people.
  • Supportive applies to people, environments, or actions, not to weather or outcomes.

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Confusing Synonyms with Different Meanings

  • Incorrect: He is a favourable person.
    Correct: He is a supportive person.
  • Incorrect: The city is famous to tourists.
    Correct: The city is favourable to tourists.

8.2. Register Errors

  • Incorrect (too formal): The party was an auspicious event.
    Correct (neutral): The party was a pleasant event.
  • Incorrect (too informal): The contract is good for us.
    Correct (formal): The contract is advantageous for us.

8.3. Incorrect Collocations

  • Incorrect: Beneficial weather
    Correct: Favourable weather
  • Incorrect: Promising outcome (for past events)
    Correct: Favourable outcome

8.4. Overuse and Redundancy

  • Incorrect: The results were favourable and beneficial.
    Correct: The results were favourable.
  • Incorrect: The meeting was agreeable and pleasant.
    Correct: The meeting was pleasant.

8.5. Incorrect Adjective Form

  • Incorrect: It was a favourableness outcome.
    Correct: It was a favourable outcome.
  • Incorrect: The review was favourably.
    Correct: The review was favourable.

Summary Table: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage Pairs

Table 11: Correct vs. Incorrect Usage Examples
Incorrect Correct
He is a favourable person. He is a supportive person.
Beneficial weather helped us. Favourable weather helped us.
The outcome was promising. (for a finished event) The outcome was favourable.
The contract is good for us. (in a formal report) The contract is advantageous for us.
The review was favourably. The review was favourable.
The meeting was agreeable and pleasant. The meeting was pleasant.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

Fill in each blank with the most suitable synonym of “favourable”.

  1. The weather was _______ for the outdoor event.
  2. Regular exercise is _______ to your health.
  3. We are looking for _______ terms in the contract.
  4. She provided a very _______ environment for learning.
  5. The results so far are _______.
  6. It was an _______ day to start the project.
  7. The partnership proved _______ for both companies.
  8. His response was _______ and encouraging.
  9. The committee gave a _______ report.
  10. The investment was highly _______.

Answer Key:

  1. favourable
  2. beneficial
  3. advantageous
  4. supportive
  5. promising
  6. auspicious
  7. beneficial
  8. supportive
  9. favourable
  10. profitable

9.2. Error Correction Exercises

Identify and correct the errors.

  1. He is a favourable teacher.
  2. The weather was beneficial for skiing.
  3. She gave me an advantageous compliment.
  4. The opportunity is supportive for your career.
  5. The results were promising. (referring to completed results)
  6. The occasion was very constructive.

Answer Key:

  1. He is a supportive teacher.
  2. The weather was favourable for skiing.
  3. She gave me an approving compliment.
  4. The opportunity is advantageous for your career.
  5. The results were favourable.
  6. The occasion was very auspicious (or pleasant).

9.3. Multiple Choice Exercises

Choose the best synonym of “favourable” for each context.

  1. The new law is _______ to small businesses.
    • a) agreeable
    • b) beneficial
    • c) supportive
    • d) promising
  2. We hope for _______ weather on the day of the picnic.
    • a) advantageous
    • b) pleasant
    • c) favourable
    • d) supportive
  3. Her manager is always _______ of her new ideas.
    • a) promising
    • b) supportive
    • c) advantageous
    • d) agreeable
  4. The job offer is _______ for recent graduates.
    • a) auspicious
    • b) promising
    • c) advantageous
    • d) beneficial
  5. The market conditions are _______ for investment.
    • a) constructive
    • b) favourable
    • c) supportive
    • d) pleasant

Answer Key:

  1. b) beneficial
  2. c) favourable
  3. b) supportive
  4. c) advantageous
  5. b) favourable

9.4. Synonym Identification

Identify the synonym of “favourable” used in each sentence.

  1. The response was highly encouraging.
  2. It was a profitable year for the company.
  3. The future looks promising.
  4. She works in a very supportive office.
  5. They reached an advantageous agreement.

Answer Key:

  1. encouraging
  2. profitable
  3. promising
  4. supportive
  5. advantageous

9.5. Sentence Construction

Write your own sentences using the following synonyms of “favourable”:

  • auspicious
  • beneficial
  • supportive
  • advantageous
  • promising

Sample Answers:

  • It was an auspicious day for their launch.
  • Eating more fruits can be beneficial to your health.
  • She has a very supportive group of friends.
  • This policy is advantageous for small companies.
  • He has a promising future in science.

9.6. Matching Exercises

Table 12: Matching Synonyms to Definitions
Synonym Definition
beneficial a) Likely to have a good effect; helpful
promising b) Showing signs of future success
supportive c) Providing encouragement or help
advantageous d) Giving someone/something an advantage
auspicious e) Suggesting a positive or successful result is likely

Answer Key:

beneficial – a
promising – b
supportive – c
advantageous – d
auspicious – e

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Subtle Connotation Differences

  • Auspicious implies good fortune or luck, often in a ceremonial sense (“an auspicious start to the year”).
  • Promising emphasizes potential for success but does not guarantee it (“a promising young athlete”).
  • Advantageous suggests a strategic or competitive edge.
  • Beneficial focuses on helpfulness or improvement.

10.2. Synonyms in Idiomatic Expressions

  • In a favourable light: She was presented in a favourable light.
  • A promising start: The team had a promising start.
  • Under auspicious circumstances: The event occurred under auspicious circumstances.

10.3. Cross-Register Variation

  • Academic: “The intervention was beneficial to participants.”
  • Business: “The merger is advantageous to both companies.”
  • Journalistic: “The outlook appears promising.”
  • Conversational: “That’s good news!”

10.4. Synonyms in British vs. American English

  • Favourable (British) vs. favorable (American)
  • Most synonyms (beneficial, promising, advantageous) are spelled the same in both varieties.

10.5. Historical and Literary Usage

Table 13: Literary Quotations with Synonym Analysis
Quotation Source Synonym Used
“It was the most auspicious day for their union.” Jane Austen, “Emma” auspicious
“The air was congenial, the company even more so.” Charles Dickens, “Great Expectations” congenial
“The prospects were promising for the young lawyer.” Anthony Trollope, “The Warden” promising

10.6. Translation and Multilingual Considerations

Translating “favourable” and its synonyms into other languages can be challenging due to connotation and context. For example, “favourable” in French may translate as favorable (general), avantageux (advantageous), or bienveillant (supportive/approving), depending on the nuance.

Tip: Always consider the specific context and meaning when translating synonyms of “favourable”.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is the difference between “favourable” and “beneficial”?
    “Favourable” is more general and can describe conditions, opinions, or outcomes that are positive or advantageous. “Beneficial” specifically means something is helpful or produces good results, especially for health or improvement.
  2. When should I use “advantageous” instead of “favourable”?
    Use “advantageous” when you want to highlight a strategic or competitive benefit, such as “an advantageous position” or “advantageous terms”.
  3. Are “supportive” and “favourable” interchangeable?
    Not always. “Supportive” typically refers to people or environments that encourage or help. “Favourable” is broader and can apply to conditions, outcomes, and opinions.
  4. What are some formal synonyms of “favourable” for academic writing?
    Beneficial, advantageous, auspicious, constructive, propitious.
  5. Can “favourable” be used to describe people as well as situations?
    Rarely. It’s more common to use “supportive” or “approving” for people. “Favourable” is mainly for opinions, responses, or conditions.
  6. What are the most common collocations with “favourable”?
    Favourable conditions, favourable outcome, favourable impression, favourable review, favourable response.
  7. How do I avoid repeating “favourable” in my writing?
    Use synonyms such as beneficial, advantageous, promising, auspicious, or supportive, depending on the context.
  8. Are there any synonyms of “favourable” that are only used in specific contexts?
    Yes. “Profitable” is mostly used in financial or business contexts. “Salubrious” is used for health or environments. “Constructive” is used with feedback or criticism.
  9. What is the American English spelling of “favourable”?
    “Favorable” (without the ‘u’).
  10. Can you use more than one synonym in the same sentence?
    Yes, for emphasis or clarification, but avoid redundancy. Example: “The agreement is both advantageous and beneficial.”
  11. What is the opposite of “favourable”?
    “Unfavourable” (British) or “unfavorable” (American). Other antonyms include adverse, disadvantageous, detrimental.
  12. How do I know which synonym to use in a professional email?
    Consider the context and level of formality. For business emails, “advantageous”, “beneficial”, or “favourable” are usually appropriate. Avoid overly informal words like “good”.

12. CONCLUSION

Mastering the synonyms of “favourable” is a valuable way to enrich your vocabulary, enhance your writing, and express yourself with greater nuance and clarity. From “beneficial” and “advantageous” to “promising” and “auspicious”, each synonym carries its own shade of meaning, appropriate contexts, and collocation patterns.

By understanding these subtle differences, you can choose the most precise word for any situation—whether in academic, professional, or everyday communication.

Remember to pay attention to context, register, and collocation when selecting synonyms. Regular practice and mindful usage will help you develop fluency and confidence.

Refer back to the practice exercises to test your understanding, and continue exploring resources to expand your vocabulary. The art of choosing the right word will set your English apart and enable you to communicate more dynamically and effectively.

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