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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
Not to mention, its non-irritating formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, too. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2025 Pros: Affordable, suitable for all skin types, has a rich consistency and a non-greasy feel Cons: The packaging isn't spill-proof Best Antioxidant-Rich: Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream Key ingredients: Antioxidant grape polyphenols, reparative organic shea butter Fragrance-free? Denise Primbet, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2025 Securities, investment products, other financial products or strategies discussed herein may not be suitable for all investors. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025 Since then, Trump officials have not answered why the State Department appeared to be taking steps to pursue an acquisition of electric vehicles from Tesla, with the company's stainless steel Cybertruck likely being the most suitable option for an armored vehicle. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suitability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suitability
Adjective
  • The Pew Research Center survey was based on 1,391 qualified U.S. teen respondents between the ages of 13-to-17.
    Brad Adgate, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Gates denied complicity in Martinez’s ouster throughout, demurring about her evident influence on Johnson, not to mention her public statements asserting Martinez was not qualified for his job.
    David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • These steps are inherently time-consuming and demand not only effective collaboration across various departments but also the strategic deployment of appropriate technologies.
    Zoryana Zagorodnya, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Addressing play aggression requires understanding the behavior and consistently implementing appropriate techniques to ensure a happy and balanced home environment.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The ‘90s was good to the magazine industry for the most part.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Although their relationship shifted over the years, Colby recalled his mom always having his best interest at heart during the early years of his childhood.
    Jordana Comiter, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • One that lingers, as intended, across the eight subsequent episodes, and gives the final season a fitting framework as a message of hope for the hopeless.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
  • In a way, Rilke’s meditation on dolls might be a fitting analogy for an artist’s experience with her materials.
    Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Yet there’s a serious question here, too, raised in the play and heightened in this adaptation, about the relevance and role of art — whether there’s any point at all — when the world is falling apart.
    Demetrios Matheou, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Fast forward a century, and its relevance is hotly debated.
    Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The progression from current experimental implants to commercially available products capable of enabling telepathy or telekinesis will likely require several more years of clinical testing and regulatory approvals.
    Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Chris is a brilliant forensic accountant capable of parsing weeks worth of complicated bookkeeping in a night, and spotting patterns others have missed.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The on and off ramps at Exit 74 on I-95 lack the proper acceleration and deceleration lanes that merge on and off I-95.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The chairman alleged Sherman colluded with some board members to wrest control by making changes to the board’s composition by appointing two new directors without proper vetting by the nominations committee.
    Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Stroud-Young situation prompted some to reconsider the validity of these cognitive exams.
    Cale Clinton, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The simple passing of time adds value and validity to Framework’s approach, and today’s news drives that home.
    Jason Evangelho, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suitability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suitability. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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