opportune

adjective

it would seem an opportune moment to impose stricter regulation:

auspicious, propitious, favorable, advantageous, heaven-sent, golden, good, right, lucky, happy, fortunate, benign, providential, felicitous;

timely, well timed, ripe, convenient, expedient, suitable, appropriate, apt, fitting, relevant, applicable, pertinent;

archaic seasonable.

▷antonyms disadvantageous, ill-timed.

choose the right word

opportune, timely, auspicious

■ Opportuneis used mainly to denote a favorabletime or moment for doing something (I waited for an opportune moment to discuss the idea). When applied to actions or events occurring at favorable moments, it can suggest the role of chance in producing a happy outcome (an opportune visit from the manager allowed him to air his views).

■ A timely action or event occurs at a moment when it can make the greatest difference to a situation (the assassins were stopped only by the timely intervention of a patrol). A timely reminder is given when it is much needed, if not overdue.

■ Auspicious is used where all the circumstances are conducive to the success of a new undertaking, and it is used typically to describe a point in time (he is waiting for the most auspicious moment to call an election). It is often used precisely when circumstances are not conducive to success, especially when referring to the start of something (he did not make the most auspicious of starts to the season).