befitting 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈfi-tiŋ How to pronounce befitting (audio)
Definition of befittingnext
1
as in proper
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste many voters feel that the womanizing governor has not acted in a befitting manner for someone who serves as the state's chief executive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in appropriate
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation a befitting reply to a civil question

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

befitting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of befit
as in fitting
to be fitting or proper spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 befitting
Adjective
If there was ever a notion that profanity isn’t befitting of the nation’s highest office, that standard has largely eroded. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026 Not only is the snowfall seemingly more befitting of January or February, but the temperatures are too. — Tara Molina, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
Devers performed at a level befitting a nearly $30-million player, posting an OPS+ of 126 in 2023 and 142 in 2024. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 With decades devoted to more mainstream roles befitting of the blonde bombshell, Anderson now embraces projects that both challenge and scare her. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for befitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befitting
  1. proper
  2. appropriate
  3. fitting
  4. polite
  5. suitable
  6. suiting
  7. respectable
  8. fit
Adjective
  • But the jet rose above the normal path aircraft take on their approach to Runway 30 before dropping altitude to return back into proper position, tracking data from Flightradar24 showed.
    — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The 6,970-yard course is challenging but fair and open enough for all handicaps, from the proper tees, to have a good time.
    — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of proper
Adjective
  • Casual straw boater hats were only appropriate during summer months—specifically from May 15 (Straw Hat Day) to September 15 (Felt Hat Day).
    — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Parton also made an effort to contribute to causes such as child literacy with her Imagination Library program, which mails a free age-appropriate book to children every month from birth to fifth grade.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of appropriate
Verb
  • The pairing won over many icons of both music and film, from Cher’s vibrant style to Olivia Newton-John’s form-fitting looks to Princess Diana’s timeless approach.
    — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2026
  • However, the extraordinary part is putting it all together, delivering 100 MW net, fitting the system aboard a movable ship, and doing it for $587 million.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fitting
Adjective
  • Don’t go looking for hushed tones, decorous silence or the other traditions of a sport whose roots exist on the hallowed lawns of polite society.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Perfection isn’t the goal, and being polite doesn’t mean being perfect.
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • My friend Paul Davis, the great artist and illustrator, even did an impressive painting of a rat, yet neither of us could convince our editors that this urban reality was a suitable topic for an upscale city magazine.
    — Gloria Steinem, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • City had intended to replace every outgoing, but in the end felt that Nico O’Reilly would be a suitable option in midfield in place of Gonzalez, as they are well stocked at left-back with Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of suitable
Verb
  • Tom Marchitelli blazed a unique trail in his rise to suiting mostly NFL superstars as a founder, designer and stylist for custom menswear brand Gentleman’s Playbook.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Operational databases—often NoSQL systems—excel at reacting to change instantly and fetching individual records with almost no delay, suiting situations where the business must act on new data in near real time.
    — Kevin Mathrani, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of suiting
Adjective
  • It’s been a respectable run, but both of those seasons ended in dispiriting wild-card knockouts.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The respectable but not outsized viewership was coupled with the high cost for the lavish production, which filmed both color and black & white versions.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of respectable
Adjective
  • The Clear Creek Route does not require technical mountaineering, but hikers still need to be fit and prepared for injuries, bad weather or an unexpected night on the mountain, the sheriff’s office said.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But another reason why Shaw may need to stay fit is because of this rekindling of his relationship down their left side with Marcus Rashford.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fit

Browse Nearby Words

befitted
befitting
befog
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befitting. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of patina

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All