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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
Adjective
Each Storytime event includes a story and a related craft, suitable for visitors up to age 8. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2025 These electrodes are housed in a body made from titanium and platinum-iridium, materials that are widely trusted in medical implants for their safety and compatibility with the human body, ensuring the device is suitable for long-term use. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025 Its breathability also makes this base layer suitable for sun protection on spring and summer hikes. Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2025 Surinam cherry is also highly suitable for container growing. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for suitability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suitability
Adjective
  • The ticket falls to Garcia, as Niemann (top 25 in the 2024 DP World Tour's Race to Dubai), Rahm (major winner in the last five years), DeChambeau (major winner in the last five years), and Reed (runner-up in the International Series Macau) are already qualified.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Executive Members also receive an annual 2% reward on qualified purchases, as well as discounts on Costco services.
    James Powel, USA Today, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • District officials insist that their use of arts money has been legal and appropriate.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
  • Localization testing helps ensure appropriate usage of region-specific currencies and symbols; attain correct display of textual content within buttons, menus or other UI elements; review adherence to local gambling regulations, such as betting limits, taxation, operational hours and more.
    Dzmitry Lubneuski, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Within that world, the film will follow other characters, including a younger player struggling to juggle soccer and her day job, and Shirley’s rival, the daughter of a famous player trying her best to reconcile her feelings for a teammate.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 June 2025
  • That looks like a pretty good bet to me, going forward.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Leadership in 2025 and beyond requires fitting humans, who supply feelings and ethics, together with technology that enhances the speed, reach, and uniformity of processes.
    Mark Minevich, Fortune, 25 June 2025
  • The key for Niang, who enters a contract year during an era where elite shooting is quite invaluable, will be fitting into the team defense.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • What’s interesting is that some brands were featured organically in outfits worn on screen, while others were built prominently into the plot—and both forms of product placement proved lucrative when approached with careful planning and relevance.
    Alison Bringé, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • Inter Miami is a relatively new MLS franchise, with co-owner David Beckham – who may have felt a modicum of sympathy for his former club, the LA Galaxy, not getting an invite to FIFA’s party – the original reason for this franchise gaining relevance in 2018.
    Glen Levy, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • The United Kingdom will buy 12 U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs and will join NATO’s shared airborne nuclear mission, in a major expansion of its nuclear deterrent, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 June 2025
  • Last month, Florida officials submitted a 37-page immigration enforcement plan to the federal government that called for detention centers in the south-central and northeastern regions of the state capable of holding 10,000 people.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Eggs themselves are not a source of collagen—but the egg white specifically contains proline and glycine, two essential amino acids for proper collagen production.
    Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • The potential disasters of treating art like traditional investments far outweigh the cost of proper planning.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The development of the Green Claims Directive, legislation that could require businesses to verify the validity of environmentally friendly claims made in marketing, has been placed on hold.
    Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • This comprehensive screening continues throughout the validity period of the visa.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suitability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suitability. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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