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
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of appropriate
Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
The guidelines include changes to alcohol recommendations, no longer specifying appropriate limits for men and women.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Kristin Brown, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Trump has attempted to unilaterally rename the Defense Department and the Kennedy Center, despite straightforward laws requiring acts of Congress to do so, and has impounded funds appropriated by Congress for child care and family assistance allocated to Democratic states.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for appropriate
Adjective
Of course, on his watch, a majority of California students still can’t read or do math at grade-appropriate levels and now many of the incoming students in our prestigious University of California system can’t either.
—Verb
Funding that was already appropriated through the budget process.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriate
Adjective
-
The Mokum variety, a Nantes type, is suitable for container growing since the orange roots are slim and shorter than some of the larger varieties, reaching six-to-eight inches in length.—
-
During the land use committee hearing, city property agent Tyler Garland said the five parcels are not suitable for multi-family housing and that no city department expressed interest in using them.—
Verb
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On December 30, two suspects, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, were seized in Las Vegas.—
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Morfa said many of her Venezuelan clients have passport complications, either having their documents annulled by the Maduro administration, or expire, or get seized by ICE.—
Verb
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Maia’s horrified to realize that the bag was stolen; Tallulah’s mostly just annoyed she got caught.—
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Before his imprisonment, Chacón was arrested in 2024 on a domestic violence charge and, in 2025, was accused of stealing merchandise at a Walmart.—
Adjective
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Resar said the issue is technique and having a dedicated coach who specializes in tight ends and can teach him proper footwork and hand placement.—
-
After not hosting an official ceremony in 2022, the Golden Globes returned to proper form in 2023, with stars showing off jaw-dropping looks on the red carpet.—
Verb
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French authorities confiscated the cocaine.—
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While raising the kids together, Ruby and Hildebrandt abused the two youngest children with harsh punishments and torture, according to Ruby's journal that was later confiscated.—
Verb
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Instead of swiping like the MetroCards, OMNY Cards are just held to a digital card reader for processing.—
-
While navigation is active, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the trip menu.—
Adjective
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The gift is fitting, not just because Farley runs Ford, but his maternal grandfather, Emmet Tracy, was an early Ford employee who built Model T's.—
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Fashion stylist Ashley Dorough recommends styles that fall somewhere between floppy and snugly fitting on your head.—
Verb
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Tri-State Fishing and Outdoor Show Don your camo gear and grab your fishing poles for the Tri-State Fishing and Outdoor Show.—
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The suspects, seen grabbing armfuls of merchandise during multiple rounds of theft, reportedly fled in a U-Haul truck, Lower Merion Police told Fox 29 Philadelphia.—
Cite this Entry
“Appropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriate. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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