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

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
Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ sentence is absolutely appropriate, and former Democratic Colorado State Senator Sonya Jacquez Lewis’s sentence is terribly lenient. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026 The two permanent exhibits have easy-to-understand, dual-language signage appropriate for both kids and adults and cover a range of topics from cellular biology to space exploration. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
But, as with many artists whose music has been appropriated by the Administration, the White House has faced pushback, including from video game fans as well as some developers, over its use of gaming memes and references to promote its policies. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Mar. 2026 The Salesman was a story about a woman attacked as a metaphor for a blindsided country, the director brilliantly re-appropriating the ultimate American drama Death of a Salesman to make the point. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026 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
  • Although researchers have so far identified over 6,000 exoplanets beyond our solar system, only a handful of them may be suitable for human visitors.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Simulator games suitable for all members of the family have a much larger potential reach.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of suitable
Verb
  • Gil Messing, the Chief of Staff of Check Point, an Israeli cybersecurity company, said the FBI seizing the Handala site would help combat the perception of Iran’s cyber ability.
    — Kevin Collier, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
  • So, when Ozzie (Kyle Bary), a former child star, finds himself in a heap of trouble, Jax seizes the opportunity to spice up her daily routine.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Shortly thereafter, VanSlooten stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a layup that made it 54-51.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Amedee makes a diving stop at first to steal a hit away from Cotton.
    — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of steal
Adjective
  • She was considered proper and respected—if not somewhat eccentric.
    — Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Gingie is a proper passion project for Lockwood, who was chuffed about the focal point of the open-concept kitchen.
    — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of proper
Verb
  • Earlier Wednesday, journalists were shown equipment confiscated in raids elsewhere, including uniforms and fake identification cards used by scammers to pose online as Japanese police officers to trick and intimidate victims.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • His father was forged by years of revolutionary hardship—prison, persecution, life underground—before coming to power and reportedly amassing a war chest exceeding $100 billion, built in part from properties confiscated from religious minorities who fled persecution.
    — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • Holter, who lives about a mile away, remembers a suitcase stolen off a porch and a bicycle swiped.
    — Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
  • For concealer pots, swiping your finger or brush in once should be enough to start.
    — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of swipe
Adjective
  • The timing now, however, seems fitting.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
  • For many teenagers, the idea of not fitting in can be one of the biggest challenges of high school and beyond.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of fitting
Verb
  • So grab your Kindle or take a trip to the bookstore, because your TBR is about to get a lot longer.
    — De Elizabeth, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Gui Santos put up 18 points and four rebounds, and Gary Payton II continued his strong run of play on the offensive side of the ball by scoring 15 and grabbing six rebounds.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026
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 21 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on appropriate

Nglish: Translation of appropriate for Spanish Speakers

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