appropriate 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈprō-prē-ət How to pronounce appropriate (audio)
Definition of appropriatenext
as in suitable
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation I don't think jeans and a T-shirt are appropriate attire for a wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

appropriate

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈprō-prē-ˌāt How to pronounce appropriate (audio)
1
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right archaeologists wrongfully appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient sites for their museums

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Just ask the countless of women who use TikTok to poll if their look is appropriate for such-and-such wedding dress code. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 June 2025 Andrew Skeet and Nathan Klein’s orchestral original score sets an appropriate tone of mournful foreboding. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 June 2025
Verb
The rescission process allows Congress to cancel funds that the federal government has not yet spent but has previously appropriated. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 3 June 2025 Congress has appropriated $535 million yearly to CPB for 2025, 2026 and 2027. —David Bauder, Twin Cities, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for appropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriate
  1. suitable
  2. seize
  3. steal
  4. proper
  5. confiscate
  6. swipe
  7. fitting
  8. grab
Adjective
  • Housing advocates have cautioned that federal land is not universally suitable for affordable housing.
    — Matthew Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
  • Investments in securities entail risk and are not suitable for all investors.
    — Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Definition of suitable
Verb
  • Flores, a 70-year-old retired welder, had illegally seized a home five years ago after its owner, the California Department of Transportation, had left it vacant.
    — Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • Morena overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government, that was until now, out of their reach.
    — MARÍA VERZA, Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Definition of seize
Verb
  • This image from Japan catches a White-Tailed Sea Eagle hiding a fish in a hole as another eagle was approaching to steal it.
    — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Even with Yarbrough allowing eight runs, the Yankees still had a chance to steal a win Saturday night.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Definition of steal
Adjective
  • The parliamentarian is the chamber's adviser on its proper rules and procedures.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
  • Sabrina Carpenter has shared her first proper single of 2025.
    — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
Definition of proper
Verb
  • Her family remained in Italy until 1939, when the Italian Racial Laws barred Jews from certain jobs and ordered Jewish property and businesses to be confiscated.
    — Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
  • After Parker was revealed to be Spider-Man, the glasses were confiscated and haven't been seen since.
    — Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • At the moment, users have to press and hold the AirPods stem or swipe on it to enable it.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
  • Ramón Urías collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right and Ryan Mountcastle swiped home as the tail end of a double steal.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
Definition of swipe
Adjective
  • Whatever happens next, the World Cup is a fitting lens through which to understand Trump’s approach to the world, as a second-term Trump doctrine takes shape.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
  • The opening shot of the episode nods to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper — a fitting visual metaphor for what lies ahead.
    — Buddha Lo, People.com, 13 June 2025
Definition of fitting
Verb
  • Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

appropriable
appropriate
appropriated
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Cite this Entry

“Appropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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