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Definition of enoughnext
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enough

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adjective

enough

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective enough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enough are adequate, competent, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would adequate be a good substitute for enough?

Although the words adequate and enough have much in common, adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When is it sensible to use competent instead of enough?

The words competent and enough can be used in similar contexts, but competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end.

had no competent notion of what was going on

When is sufficient a more appropriate choice than enough?

The synonyms sufficient and enough are sometimes interchangeable, but sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

How does the adjective enough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enough are adequate, competent, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would adequate be a good substitute for enough?

Although the words adequate and enough have much in common, adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When is it sensible to use competent instead of enough?

The words competent and enough can be used in similar contexts, but competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end.

had no competent notion of what was going on

When is sufficient a more appropriate choice than enough?

The synonyms sufficient and enough are sometimes interchangeable, but sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

How does the adjective enough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enough are adequate, competent, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would adequate be a good substitute for enough?

Although the words adequate and enough have much in common, adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When is it sensible to use competent instead of enough?

The words competent and enough can be used in similar contexts, but competent suggests measuring up to all requirements without question or being adequately adapted to an end.

had no competent notion of what was going on

When is sufficient a more appropriate choice than enough?

The synonyms sufficient and enough are sometimes interchangeable, but sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of enough
Adverb
Her experience is a reminder that for Trump, loyalty isn’t enough. Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2026 These are comfortable enough to actually log steps in, which is really the only requirement that matters. Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Moreover, the researchers emphasize that developing technical solutions alone is not enough; policies and regulations must also evolve to ensure public confidence in these technologies. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026 Most produce only enough electrons to run a refrigerator and a few small appliances, experts say. Drew Kann, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
The outlet also criticized the Florida senator for not doing enough prior to the two-week recess. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026 Oz, who earlier this year was criticized after posting a video accusing Armenian crime groups of carrying out widespread fraud, continued Thursday to accuse California and Los Angeles officials of not doing enough to combat fraud. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • The music was sufficiently groovy, the costumes era-appropriate (miniskirts, Travolta-tight slacks), yet nothing conjured the tension of an oppressive August day—and nobody broke a sweat.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
  • An earlier December lawsuit had been dismissed by the judge, who said the organization did not sufficiently prove the president was exceeding his powers.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Better yet, visit at the end of September for the Feile Tilting, a celebration of the Titling community’s irish heritage that culminates in what is rumored to be a pretty raucous shed crawl.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The first half was pretty even, but the Colleyville Heritage (16-4-2) did put a little more pressure on, despite going into a steady 15-20 mile-per-hour wind.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Virtue isn’t quite like other hair care brands.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Service’s regional headquarters will vanish, along with most of its research facilities and experimental forests—and also quite likely the sense of mission that has animated the agency for more than a century.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The island was already prone to prolonged power outages, but those have gotten worse, with power plants lacking sufficient fuel to operate.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • To issue an Amber Alert, law enforcement must determine that specific statutory conditions are met, including the age of the child, law enforcement’s belief in imminent danger of serious injury or death, and the sufficiency of existing information to assist in recovery.
    Itay Ravid, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The sufficiency of disapproval to derail Trump’s primary immigration enforcement serves as further damning evidence against the companies and entities that so easily and so quickly capitulated to Trump last year.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Gelber promised to sue the Legislature for failing to adequately fund public schools.
    Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Finally, neither strategy adequately addresses the capital requirements that prevent many clinics and pharmacies from stocking injectable PrEP.
    Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Even the more politically active class of nonprofits — 501(c)(4) groups, like the relatively new American Hunters and Anglers — can’t make political activity its primary activity.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2026
  • That’s because baked into Bournemouth’s valuation is an assumption that the relatively small club isn’t going to be in the Premier League for the long haul.
    Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Tyler entered the season with expectations as a defensive-minded facilitator but never fully found her rhythm.
    Aaron Segal, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Listen fully, because useful details hide in ordinary words.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

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