fitting 1 of 2

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
And that’s fitting, of course, for a ghost story. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026 In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight's men's basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state's favorite sport. Arkansas Online, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cruz, wearing a Santa hat, shimmied behind a boogieing Victoria, 51, clad in a form-fitting grey dress. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026 Cover trash cans with tight-fitting lids. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitting
Adjective
  • None of this work was suitable for mainstream audiences.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Reynolds said more than 100 tiny homes placed on the campus for veterans who had camped on nearby San Vicente Boulevard have proved to be difficult for those using wheelchairs and walkers, are subject to fire and are not suitable for stays that can drag on for months.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The mill even debuted a 100 percent linen twill called Intrepid 850 with a crisper finish, befitting lightweight outerwear including casual field and safari jackets.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The Solitude As befitting an eco-lodge, there are no cars on Tetiaroa, enhancing the experience of the pristine, peaceful paradise Brando envisioned decades ago.
    Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • There are 300 seats in the gym, and fans will recognize that each spot has the image of its corresponding Pokémon from the Pokédex.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
  • In a corresponding move, the Braves designated pitcher George Soriano for assignment.
    Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Cover pan; cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting heat as needed to ensure mixture stays at a gentle simmer, until fennel is very tender, 15–20 minutes.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • There are physical control buttons on the headphones for turning ANC on and off and adjusting the volume.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • With another icy day expected on Tuesday, many medical professionals are preparing to spend another night here at the hospital.
    Erin Jones, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Later clarification confirmed that the submarine is still preparing for submerged operations.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The timing of the protests and demonstrations was intended to increase turnout by accommodating people’s work schedules and to maximize media coverage by aligning with news cycles.
    Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Barrow Island is a major center for oil and natural gas operations, accommodating the most productive oil-extraction site in Australia, and home to a conservation reserve where spectacled hare wallabies, sea turtles, perentie (Australia’s largest lizard), and other rare and protected species live.
    Josh Lew, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • At the same time, adolescents and young adults need appropriate confidentiality to engage in treatment, particularly as parents shift from decision-makers to supporters.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Be thoughtful about sensitive items Consider redacting highly sensitive data (like customer-specific pricing) when appropriate, and carefully manage access to the most confidential folders.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Kate Middleton returned to her royal power suiting ways on Thursday, wearing a maroon Roland Mouret suit and other monochrome elements during a visit to Charing Cross Hospital in London with her husband Prince William.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The Education Department advised borrowers to use a Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator to estimate their monthly payment amount, determine their eligibility for repayment options, and choose a new plan suiting their goals and needs.
    Connor Greene, Time, 11 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitting. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

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