fitting 1 of 2

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
On a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the singer and talk show host wore a slim-fitting, long-sleeve black turtleneck with a pleated brown maxi skirt, black belt, and black strappy platform sandals. Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 The expansion included a larger pool, which is fitting for a species that is the world’s largest rodent. Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Finally, on the day of the tux fitting, Joe panicked, abruptly leaving the atelier. Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025 The duo’s vocals — sometimes in unison, sometimes trading lines — blend perfectly, fitting seamlessly with the ensemble style of the drama series, which portrays the lives of young people. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fitting
Adjective
  • If an item is too large for the washing machine or dishwasher, the non-toxic power of steam is often a suitable alternative.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Cranberries grow in standard gardens, pots, or any place that’s suitable for blueberries.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • An Updown girl buried with adornments befitting the seventh-century Anglo-Saxon elite had a sub-Saharan African grandparent, and the Slavicization of Eurasia was the result of east-to-west migration rather than of top-down imposition by Slavic elites.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
  • As befitting a complex competition featuring 16 different sports and innumerable geopolitical influences, the 2026 Olympics are being carefully watched by athletes, organizers and Olympics observers for a number of reasons.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And, of course, the corresponding wine list has been built with care and primarily features low-intervention bottles from Portugal and Spain.
    Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The distribution of crops and their corresponding prices changed between years for both counties, led by a resurgence in walnut prices.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By adjusting their positions in real time, the drones can not only lift and transport the heavy object but also control its orientation, which is crucial for precise placement in complex environments.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
  • This novel follows a sophomore seeking popularity and refuge in an elite sorority and an adjunct professor adjusting to new motherhood.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Vietnam is preparing for damaging winds, flooding, heavy rain and storm surges in its central provinces including Danang, Quang Ngai and Dak Lak.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Two or three chefs work right in front of you, preparing each dish in the traditional omakase style.
    Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Her mom is on her side, but some aunts are calling her a bridezilla for not accommodating family.
    Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Hanai’s skeptical but accommodating wife, Sachiko (Shinobu Terajima), agrees to essentially adopt Kikuo and help train him.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Spanx Supersmooth Perfect Fit Ponte Micro Flare Pant Speaking of smoothing, these dress pants have compression from waist to knee and a subtle flare leg — like your favorite yoga pants but office appropriate.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • It should be cooked thoroughly and not raw, trimmed of excess fat, cut into bite-sized pieces appropriate for the dog’s size and free from dog toxins such as garlic, onion or excessive salt.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This is a collection that showcased the American designer’s ability to intertwine tweedy suiting with rich velvet dresses, antique ivory and gold finishings, and glamorous eveningwear.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Meghan Markle exchanged power suiting for elevated business casual dressing in pieces by Ralph Lauren on Friday for her speaking engagement with Project Healthy Minds World Mental Health Day Festival in New York City.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fitting. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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