The best thing in the world for a man is to choose a good wife, the worst being to mistakenly choose an ill-suited one.
Source: tatoeba (58270)
Ill-suited
Synonyms for "ill-suited" (79 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (16)
Strong matches (24)
Adjective(5 words)
Noun(1 words)
Related words (39)
mismatchedmismatedmisplacedout of characterout of jointout of keepingout of lineout of placeout of proportionout of seasonout of timeout of tuneunadaptedunaptunbecomingunbefittingundesirableunfitunfittedunfitting
Noun(1 words)
poor fit
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: academic misfit, bad, classroom misfit, futile, ill advised action.
- Sentence evidence is available for ill-suited, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "ill-suited".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "ill-suited"
Keep "ill-suited" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "ill-suited" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "ill-suited", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "ill-suited" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
6 entriesill-fitting equipmentill-fitting garmentill-fitting softwareill-suited applicantill-suited candidateill-suited manager
Collocations
6 entriesill-suited climateill-suited datasetill-suited environmentill-suited policyill-suited roleill-suited sample
Inflections
2 entriesmore ill-suitedmost ill-suited
Derivations
1 entriesSample sentences
4 total sentences available.
Moreover, because he was handsome, he was ill-suited to working as a teacher in a girls' school.
Source: tatoeba (1819769)
A considerable amount of beet comes from the Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry growing areas to Mallow and if the closure proposals mentioned are implemented this traffic will in future years be thrown on roads ill-suited to such heavy haulage.
Source: wiktionary
an ill-suited married couple
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "ill-suited"?
Closest matches include academic misfit, bad, classroom misfit, futile, ill advised action.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "ill-suited"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.