acceptable
adjective
ac·cept·able
ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl 
ak-
also ek-
1
: capable or worthy of being accepted
an acceptable noise level
socially acceptable behavior
a compromise that is acceptable to both sides
Synonyms of acceptable
Examples of acceptable in a Sentence
acceptable and unacceptable noise levels
It was an acceptable performance, although not an outstanding one.
She plays an acceptable game of tennis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Curated by Our Editors In 2020 an international commission addressed these concerns by outlining the conditions under which society should deem human germ line editing acceptable.
—
Laura Dattaro, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
This common kitchen spice is another scent deterrent that causes ants to leave for a more acceptable location.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Children learn which tactics work and are acceptable by seeing how adults, who hold power over them, employ them.
—Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for acceptable
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Laura Dattaro, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
This common kitchen spice is another scent deterrent that causes ants to leave for a more acceptable location.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Children learn which tactics work and are acceptable by seeing how adults, who hold power over them, employ them.
—Angela J. Narayan, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for acceptable
Cite this Entry
“Acceptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acceptable. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acceptable
adjective
ac·cept·able
ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl
ak-
1
: capable or worthy of being accepted : satisfactory
an acceptable excuse
2
: barely good enough
plays an acceptable game
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