suitable

adjective

suit·​able ˈsü-tə-bəl How to pronounce suitable (audio)
Synonyms of suitable
1
a
: adapted to a use or purpose
suitable for kitchen use
b
: satisfying propriety : proper
suitable dress
c
: able, qualified
a suitable candidate for the job
2
obsolete : similar, matching
suitability
ˌsü-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce suitable (audio)
noun
suitableness noun
suitably
ˈsü-tə-blē How to pronounce suitable (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of suitable

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fit, suitable, meet, proper, appropriate, fitting, apt, happy, felicitous mean right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance.

fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.

fit for battle

suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.

clothes suitable for camping

meet suggests a just proportioning.

meet payment

proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.

proper acknowledgement

appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.

an appropriate gift

fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.

a fitting end

apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.

apt quotations

happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.

a happy choice of words

felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.

a felicitous phrase

Examples of suitable in a Sentence

The dress was a suitable choice. We upgraded the computer to make it suitable to our needs.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For all of the wonderfully talented players that the City academy are bringing through, there have been no suitable deep-lying midfielders on the conveyor belt — even Nico O’Reilly was better as an attacking midfielder in his academy days. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 The debate is no longer about whether the CLARITY Act contains suitable ethics provisions. — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 The pilot plant is intended to close the technical gap between mining antimony-bearing ore and producing material suitable for defense applications. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026 Luna, is 80% cheaper, and Terra, suitable for everyday knowledge work, is 20% cheaper for input and output tokens. — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for suitable

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of suitable was in 1563

Rhymes for suitable

See All Rhymes for suitable

Browse Nearby Words

suitability
suitable
suitableness
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Cite this Entry

“Suitable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suitable. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

suitable

adjective
suit·​able ˈsüt-ə-bəl How to pronounce suitable (audio)
1
: adapted to a use or purpose
food suitable for human consumption
2
: being fit or right for a use or group
clothes suitable to the occasion
a movie suitable for children
3
: qualified sense 1, capable
looking for a suitable replacement
suitability
ˌsüt-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce suitable (audio)
noun
suitableness
ˈsüt-ə-bəl-nəs
noun
suitably
-blē How to pronounce suitable (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on suitable

Nglish: Translation of suitable for Spanish Speakers

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