Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective apt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of apt are appropriate, felicitous, fitting, fit, happy, meet, proper, and suitable. While all these words mean "right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance," apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When is appropriate a more appropriate choice than apt?

While in some cases nearly identical to apt, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

When can felicitous be used instead of apt?

The words felicitous and apt can be used in similar contexts, but felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

In what contexts can fit take the place of apt?

In some situations, the words fit and apt are roughly equivalent. However, fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

When might fitting be a better fit than apt?

While the synonyms fitting and apt are close in meaning, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to apt?

The words happy and apt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

When would meet be a good substitute for apt?

The meanings of meet and apt largely overlap; however, meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When could proper be used to replace apt?

Although the words proper and apt have much in common, proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

When is it sensible to use suitable instead of apt?

The synonyms suitable and apt are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 apt An apt reaction to a prayer just as fittingly unanswered in a 2-0 loss for Colorado. Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 15 May 2025 The flashy sequences of violence feel apt for TV (Netflix, along with Steven Spielberg’s production outfit and the Obamas’ media company, is working on a series), but the novel’s real draw is the quieter ache of a family torn apart. The Atlantic, 15 May 2025 The record is melodically fit for the dance floor, but lyrically apt for a journal entry. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025 This distressed imagery provides an apt aesthetic counterpart to storytelling in which each scene is presented as a subjective memory, with some details blurred and others pin-sharp. Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for apt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apt
Adjective
  • This natural stone is porous enough to stain, soft enough to scratch, and prone to damage from chemicals.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2025
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • Time for Thorough Searches: Interim appointments allow boards the necessary time to conduct comprehensive searches for suitable permanent leaders.
    Solange Charas, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • This work will reveal insights about the quasi-moon and help the team select a suitable sampling site.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • The reason is that employees who are inclined to violate a nondisclosure agreement are also inclined to violate a noncompete.
    Sam Peak, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
  • In her view, Gen Z grads are less inclined to assertively chase opportunities — including taking jobs that aren’t necessarily their dream roles.
    Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • If your submission is selected for inclusion in the NPR News Quiz, you will be acknowledged in a list of contributors on NPR's website or otherwise receive appropriate credit, but failure to do so shall not be deemed a breach of your rights.
    Holly J. Morris, NPR, 30 May 2025
  • The suit seeks compensatory and general damages and special and/or punitive damages, costs associated with filing the lawsuit and other damages deemed appropriate by the court.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Using the tee fitting wasn’t his most grievous error.
    Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
  • That all changed at Allianz Arena, the home of Bayern Munich, one of the titans of Europe, and a fitting stage for PSG’s crowning moment.
    James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • The parliamentarian is the chamber's adviser on its proper rules and procedures.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
  • There could be a defense explaining it and somehow providing the proper framework for understanding it.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • This set features two pillow shams, duvet cover, and flat and fitted sheet.
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 23 May 2025
  • With Relaxed Suiting and an Eye-Catching Bag A baby blue button up (and an avocado bag) add a touch of whimsy to a fitted suit.
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The long crisscrossed straps fit around your midsection to elevate the look without much effort on your part.
    Christopher Murray may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
  • At the time, elders knew the location wasn’t fit for permanent settlement because the low-lying ground would shift as the permafrost froze and thawed seasonally, said Andy Patrick, 77, one of two residents who remember life in the old village before Newtok.
    Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 29 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Apt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apt. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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