suitability 1 of 2

Definition of suitabilitynext

suitable

2 of 2

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
Jennifer Carvalho is similarly fighting to prevent rapist Thomas Martinez Carvalho, who is now 54, from being released at his parole suitability hearing next year, according to reporting from KCRA. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026 Known for their compact size, disease resistance, and suitability for small spaces, dwarf apple trees are the perfect addition to any garden. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Huth had grown up on a steady diet of Will Wright, leaving pheromone trails to food caches in SimAnt, calibrating the temperature to make his SimEarth suitable for life. Eric Boodman, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026 Lyme disease can be curable, especially if it is treated early with a suitable course of antibiotics lasting two to four weeks. Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suitability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suitability
Noun
  • The update comes as rodeo outfits have drawn attention online, including viral social media videos debating the appropriateness of attire worn by some attendees.
    Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Selecting the right songs for your family's commute involves considering the mood, energy, and appropriateness of the lyrics based on your child's age.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Most Detroit car makers fell in line, and after 1975, most cars smog-qualified for California buyers were sold everywhere else too.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
  • The bottom line is, many ICE agents are not qualified or properly trained for TSA jobs.
    Jay Reddick, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Everyone is urged to properly dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and any other flammable items in appropriate containers.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2026
  • That plan ultimately goes awry, with Margot surviving the attack, smartly staged in a way that doesn’t completely ratchet up the violent tension, keeping the audience in an appropriate level of comfort while not compromising the narrative.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • More than two-thirds of companies don’t clearly disclose leave duration, and among those that do, fewer than 5 percent meet international standards for duration, pay and global applicability.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Mar. 2026
  • In taking this event as his starting point, Alper has created a film that is both culturally specific, and has plenty of wider applicability as well.
    Catherine Bray, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Another newcomer, closer Pete Fairbanks, the Marlins’ $13 million free-agent splurge, finished the game in good fashion.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2026
  • A level head will be your best asset.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The uncertainty, the fear of not being safe, the feeling of not fitting in — these are experiences many people, including those in the United States, are right now grappling with.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Proper terminology aside, the vehicular props proved fitting, as the Giants’ evening quickly went off the rails when their ace, Logan Webb, surrendered five runs in the second inning.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • How much money could Charlotte bring to the table for roster construction, staff salaries, operating expenses, and anything and everything that could rejuvenate the 49ers’ program and kickstart its return to relevance?
    Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Yet the stumbles under Davis that would’ve qualified as successes elsewhere struck at the core identity of a program with national brand-name relevance and ties to some of the sport’s biggest names like Smith, Williams, James Worthy, Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.
    Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • According to IntBot, the robot represents a broader shift toward socially intelligent robots capable of understanding human intent and operating autonomously in real-world environments such as airports, hospitals, and public buildings.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The 82nd Airborne Division is known as the Army's emergency response team, capable of deploying within 18 hours and parachuting into a war zone.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Suitability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suitability. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

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