Appropriate vs. Necessary

Appropriate vs. Necessary — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Appropriate and Necessary

Appropriateadjective

Suitable or fit; proper.

The headmaster wondered what an appropriate measure would be to make the pupil behave better.

Necessaryadjective

Required, essential, whether logically inescapable or needed in order to achieve a desired result or avoid some penalty.

Although I wished to think that all was false, it was yet necessary that I, who thus thought, must in some sense exist.It is absolutely necessary that you call and confirm your appointment.

Appropriateadjective

Suitable to the social situation or to social respect or social discreetness; socially correct; socially discreet; well-mannered; proper.

I don't think it was appropriate for the cashier to tell me out loud in front of all those people at the check-out that my hair-piece looked like it was falling out of place.While it is not considered appropriate for a professor to date his student, there is no such concern once the semester has ended.

Necessaryadjective

Unavoidable, inevitable.

If it is absolutely necessary to use public computers, you should plan ahead and forward your e-mail to a temporary, disposable account.

Appropriateadjective

(obsolete) Set apart for a particular use or person; reserved.

Necessaryadjective

(obsolete) Determined, involuntary: acting from compulsion rather than free will.

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Appropriateverb

To make suitable; to suit.

Necessarynoun

A place to do the "necessary" business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.

Appropriateverb

(transitive) To take to oneself; to claim or use, especially as by an exclusive right.

Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.

Necessarynoun

anything indispensable;

food and shelter are necessities of lifethe essentials of the good lifeallow farmers to buy their requirements under favorable conditionsa place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be obtained

Appropriateverb

(transitive) To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, especially in exclusion of all others; with to or for.

A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden.to appropriate money for the increase of the navy

Necessaryadjective

absolutely essential

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Appropriateverb

To annex (for example a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property).

Necessaryadjective

unavoidably determined by prior circumstances;

the necessary consequences of one's actions

Appropriateverb

give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause;

I will earmark this money for your research

Appropriateverb

take possession of by force, as after an invasion;

the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitantsThe army seized the townThe militia captured the castle

Appropriateadjective

suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc;

a book not appropriate for childrena funeral conducted the appropriate solemnityit seems that an apology is appropriate

Appropriateadjective

appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness

Appropriateadjective

meant or adapted for an occasion or use;

a tractor suitable (or fit) for heavy dutynot an appropriate (or fit) time for flippancy

Appropriateadjective

suitable and fitting;

the tailored clothes were harmonious with her military bearing

Appropriateadjective

being of striking appropriateness and pertinence;

the successful copywriter is a master of apposite and evocative verbal imagesan apt reply