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appropriate

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective appropriate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of appropriate are apt, felicitous, fitting, fit, happy, meet, proper, and suitable. While all these words mean "right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance," appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

In what contexts can apt take the place of appropriate?

In some situations, the words apt and appropriate are roughly equivalent. However, apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When would felicitous be a good substitute for appropriate?

The synonyms felicitous and appropriate are sometimes interchangeable, but felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When might fit be a better fit than appropriate?

The words fit and appropriate can be used in similar contexts, but fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

When could fitting be used to replace appropriate?

Although the words fitting and appropriate have much in common, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to appropriate?

The meanings of happy and appropriate largely overlap; however, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

When is meet a more appropriate choice than appropriate?

While in some cases nearly identical to appropriate, meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When is it sensible to use proper instead of appropriate?

The words proper and appropriate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

When can suitable be used instead of appropriate?

While the synonyms suitable and appropriate are close in meaning, suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appropriate
Adjective
Given that Brown ran his own company and also had a spouse who was employed, the prosecutor believed the high bond was appropriate. Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Failure to strategically assess the appropriate response (if any) can compound these risks. Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Park funding is appropriated by Congress, leaving the park system vulnerable if lawmakers can’t reach a deal. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 However, because capital appropriates the powers of living labor to itself, the distinctiveness of the latter is deeply obscured. Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriate
Adjective
  • As comedians from Bill Burr to Kevin Hart were slammed for performing at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, Dave Chappelle said the Middle Eastern nation is actually more suitable for stand-up than the United States.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Garlic from the grocery store is not suitable for growing.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The man reported to the Sheriff’s Office he had been scammed; the Sheriff’s Office then obtained a warrant and seized $14,120 from the ATM.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Failing to seize the narrative, the authorities shifted course and began erasing the record from public memory.
    Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Of course, due to all of these developments, everyone finally knows that the man who kidnapped Sam and stole the dope is Robbie Pendergrast.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But their double life gets complicated when a rival boy band harboring a sinister secret starts to steal their fans.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rogers police sent out a news release Thursday about Act 557 of 2025, which allows people get their money back from the kiosks if people follow the proper procedures.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Equipment is not maintained in good repair or does not allow for proper adjustment (Condensation build-up inside of reach-in cooler).
    Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Exxon was the first American company to sue Cuban state companies, Cimex and Unión Cuba-Petróleo in 2019, for the exploitation of service stations confiscated by the Cuban government.
    Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In this exclusive clip, the sisters encounter one of the magical objects their ancestor confiscated.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • After a brief scuffle between the two players, Noel held on to the ball, though Alexander swiped his hand at him in frustration as tensions rose.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Franklin swiped defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State, coming off a national championship.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • From their first look to cutting into the gorgeous chrome cake, the day was a fitting celebration for their bond.
    Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The controllers' corners feel less sharp than on the original Lenovo Legion Go, fitting more comfortably in my hand.
    Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The ball popped up in the air and Bolton was there to grab it, except he was hit by teammate Drue Tranquill.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Sasaki was the necessary answer on Monday night, coming in to secure the final out and avoid disaster as Freddie Freeman sprawled out to grab Tommy Edman’s final throw to first base.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Appropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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