Definition of fittingnext

fitting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fit
1
as in befitting
archaic to be fitting or proper we hardly know them, so for Christmas a simple card will fit

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in accommodating
to make or have room for we can fit you in the booth if the rest of us squeeze closer together

Synonyms & Similar Words

6

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fitting differ from other similar words?

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

a fitting end

When would appropriate be a good substitute for fitting?

While the synonyms appropriate and fitting are close in meaning, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

When is it sensible to use apt instead of fitting?

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

apt quotations

When might felicitous be a better fit than fitting?

The words felicitous and fitting are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When could fit be used to replace fitting?

While in some cases nearly identical to fitting, fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to fitting?

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

a happy choice of words

In what contexts can meet take the place of fitting?

The synonyms meet and fitting are sometimes interchangeable, but meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When is proper a more appropriate choice than fitting?

The words proper and fitting can be used in similar contexts, but proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

When can suitable be used instead of fitting?

Although the words suitable and fitting have much in common, 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 fitting
Adjective
Tottenham Hotspur’s trip Down Under ended with a dramatic, last-gasp Richarlison goal in a 2-1 win over Chelsea, their chief bogey side, to mark a fitting moment for a club intent on a fresh start. Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Baggy or loose fitting pants must be worn with a belt that fits around the waist. Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
One wanted a three-piece suit, another copied a loose-fitting suit in a style Hattie often wears, another had a Jackie O-style minidress in mind, and the fourth wanted a high-neck top with buttons up the back, with matching trousers and shawl. Jessica Salter, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026 Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids, and always clean well when eating outdoors. Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitting
Adjective
  • In the long run, leaders are confident the 19 new boats will prove suitable replacements for the Ohios.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • One of the conditions included the owner's agreement to help existing Ansley Park residents find suitable housing.
    Emily McLeod, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
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
  • Nothing is topping that 2016 title or the sheer volume of LeBron’s statistics, but helping the Knicks end a 54-year streak would have been an accomplishment befitting James’ career.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The corresponding move there could be Gavin Sheets, who has been dealing with plantar fasciitis, going on the IL.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In a corresponding roster move, the Patriots released tight end Jeremiah Franklin.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • For Darline Graham, that tight timeline has meant adjusting to her new role as a senator and hitting the campaign trail, while mourning the unexpected loss of her brother.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That is a learnable skill that comes through trying, missing and adjusting, not by reading a prompt guide once.
    Boyan Wan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • DeLeo and her family were spending Saturday at home preparing for their nephew’s 4th birthday party, one day before they were supposed to drive to Uniontown for the funeral of their beloved aunt, when the alert about the fire came.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • An Alaska Airlines flight preparing to depart Miami International Airport for Seattle reported a disturbance involving threats from customers Sunday evening, according to air traffic control audio.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Rack manufacturers must anticipate those changes while accommodating a wide range of vehicles and riding styles.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Retailers like Warby Parker are known for accommodating these payment methods, which can help manage your budget more effectively.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Citing a report from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the government said that at least 70 people reported visual loss in the days after the eclipse due to having looked directly up at the sun without appropriate protection.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Kids Against Maturity is an age-appropriate take on Cards Against Humanity for kids ten and up.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Nicole Kidman is serving up the aesthetic blueprint for the ultimate European summer, from embracing power suiting in Wimbledon’s Royal Box to showing off her natural blonde curls while jet-setting out of Ibiza.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitting. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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