appropriate 1 of 2

appropriate

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective appropriate differ from other similar words?

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

an appropriate gift

In what contexts can apt take the place of appropriate?

In some situations, the words apt and appropriate are roughly equivalent. However, apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

When would felicitous be a good substitute for appropriate?

The synonyms felicitous and appropriate are sometimes interchangeable, but felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

When might fit be a better fit than appropriate?

The words fit and appropriate can be used in similar contexts, but fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

When could fitting be used to replace appropriate?

Although the words fitting and appropriate have much in common, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

Where would happy be a reasonable alternative to appropriate?

The meanings of happy and appropriate largely overlap; however, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

When is meet a more appropriate choice than appropriate?

While in some cases nearly identical to appropriate, meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

When is it sensible to use proper instead of appropriate?

The words proper and appropriate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

When can suitable be used instead of appropriate?

While the synonyms suitable and appropriate are close in meaning, 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 appropriate
Adjective
Samantha Dawn, a personal stylist and style coach, also thinks the fabric is seasonally appropriate. Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 On the seat-back entertainment screens, select the 'Kids' button for access to age-appropriate movies, TV shows, music, and games. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The military typically relies on money appropriated by Congress for funding. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025 Lao Jia had started in the morgue when the new government appropriated the hospital in 1949. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriate
Adjective
  • This breakthrough could lead to the development of more reliable, next-generation sensors suitable for applications ranging from medical monitoring to energy storage systems.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Less suitable is the club’s goalkeeping.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What’s more, after the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Czechs who had their property seized by the state were allowed to reclaim much of it through a restitution system – but not ethnic Germans who lost it under the post-war Benes decrees.
    Will Tizard, Variety, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As my daughter’s face paled, and a man in a clown mask stalked the aisles, panic seized my limbs.
    Christa Carmen, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with the brazen heist of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris, a week after thieves stole millions of dollars worth of historic jewelry, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Marchenko kept the heat on by stealing a page from Johnson’s book of tricks, sliding it through Silovs’ pads.
    Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When using hydrogen peroxide, wear protective gloves and eyewear to avoid irritation, ensure proper ventilation, and never mix it with bleach, ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaning agents.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The sweeping opinion ran through a list of Israeli practices that the ICJ said violated international law, including confiscating land, building Israeli settlements in the territories, and depriving Palestinians of natural resources and the right to self-determination.
    Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Victoria discussed payment, methods, and timing in messages discovered on a phone that was eventually confiscated from Amato by security guards.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • For his part, Ball enjoyed a strong showing against Milwaukee on Sunday, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor (2-of-4 from distance) and 1-of-3 shooting from the foul line, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out five dimes, and swiping one steal.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
  • In 2023, a statue of a warrior riding a horse that symbolizes the sister city relationship between San Jose and Pune, India, was swiped from Guadalupe River Park.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Town got legislation passed for veteran housing Carney said the location for the homes is fitting.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The ceremony’s focus on Berlanti’s contributions to the YA space was a fitting emphasis for the Summit, which comes in the wake of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers’ annual Teens and Screens report.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Asian restaurant joins what has become an increasingly attractive section of Meridian for grabbing food.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The Clinton years and the 1990s, defined by continuous domestic economic growth and headline-grabbing scandals, were a time when liberal idealism was so strong that Aaron Sorkin wrote a show about it.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on appropriate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!