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suitable

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adjective

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective suitable differ from other similar words?

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

clothes suitable for camping

In what contexts can appropriate take the place of suitable?

The meanings of appropriate and suitable largely overlap; however, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

Where would apt be a reasonable alternative to suitable?

The synonyms apt and suitable are sometimes interchangeable, but apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When could felicitous be used to replace suitable?

In some situations, the words felicitous and suitable are roughly equivalent. However, felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When is fit a more appropriate choice than suitable?

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

fit for battle

When would fitting be a good substitute for suitable?

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

a fitting end

When might happy be a better fit than suitable?

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

a happy choice of words

When is it sensible to use meet instead of suitable?

The words meet and suitable can be used in similar contexts, but meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When can proper be used instead of suitable?

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

proper acknowledgement

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 suitability
Noun
Airlines are required to verify passengers' suitability through multiple steps, beginning with ticket purchase and continuing through boarding. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 Yet each individual lava structure needs to be surveyed and imaged—in three dimensions—to determine its suitability for a human outpost, Pérez-del-Pulgar says. Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
However, before 2520 BCE, this sacred ground was not a suitable location for settlement. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025 Designed by University of Waterloo researchers, the solid gravity energy storage system is claimed to be suitable for storing renewable energy. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suitability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suitability
Noun
  • The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • In the previous case, the board did not require the property owner to pursue the certificate of appropriateness because the application included rebuild plans.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The enhanced tax credits meant families like the Galls qualified.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The short has already qualified for Academy Award consideration and will begin its official Oscar campaign this season.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The appropriate State or local election official shall place such names on the official voting list.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Reddit threads dissect what’s real and what’s not, cataloging whether a timepiece is authentic, era-appropriate, or even properly worn.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney.
    Steve Hruby, Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Federal courts of appeals have divided over the question of scope of applicability.
    Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Running back Chase Brown had his best game of the year on the ground, rushing for 108 yards on just 11 carries against the Pittsburgh defense.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Arkansas’ best offense in a decade is being wasted by a defense that is shaping up to be one of the worst in program history.
    Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The earthy color also seems very fitting for this time of year.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a completely different energy during Joe’s tux fitting.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • During a joint interview, Smith’s wife Leslie Smolan and the shows’ curator Anne Morin, who is director of diChroma Photography, discussed the relevance and impact of Smith’s work today.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The government continues to concede land, resources, and sovereignty without demanding protections or accountability—gambling on the promise of economic benefits and international relevance.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As drone warfare evolves, the service aims to field layered defenses capable of protecting maneuver units against everything from quadcopters to cruise missiles.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Whether the Monster is part of Ana’s imagination or not, the scene carries a fragile, haunting power, suggesting that the only person capable of rescuing Ana from the pervasive mystery and misery of her home life belongs to the supernatural, outside the punishing borders of Franco’s Spain.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suitability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suitability. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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