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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

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
Checked has an 80-liter capacity and can store enough clothes for a trip that’s up to two weeks long. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025 There’s a lot of chatter about the giant, plush towels of luxury resorts and not nearly enough about the benefits of a lightweight, super-absorbent textile. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The Party is still not doing enough on either count. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025 The couple have also criticized Netanyahu for not doing enough to free the hostages. Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Featuring a faux wrap neckline and a deep V-neck design, the sweater is sophisticated and polished enough for date nights, after-work cocktails, parties, and more. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025 If that stretch wasn’t enough, Florida returned to another head-scratching theme — an inability to field 11 players — in the fourth quarter. Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • Overwatering Watering peace lilies sufficiently can be tricky because their needs change based on environment and time of year.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Billowing sleeves and a loose, flowy hem allow the top to move with you through the airport, during sightseeing excursions, and even out to a nice dinner, and the neutral sage color keeps the top sufficiently wearable as your new go-to basic.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • During a pretty boring game that ended in a 105-95 Knicks win, Eagle and his analyst, Stan Van Gundy, made some chicken salad.
    Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • In the spring of 2024, another photo, the last, showed him in pretty much the same outfit somewhere on the streets of Santa Fe, clinging to Betsy’s arm.
    Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • This shortfall was quite disappointing.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 2025
  • There’s also been quite a bit of slash and burn.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some state leaders say the lot isn’t sufficient without state and federal entities doing their part.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Previous designs couldn’t pack enough ferromagnetic particles into the soft material to generate sufficient force.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • His attorneys plan to file motions challenging the sufficiency of the charges and alleging political pressure, while prosecutors prepare to disclose transcripts and records of his 2020 testimony.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Sep. 2025
  • To determine the sufficiency of the evidence, the appellate judges identified the reasonable inferences that could be drawn from the circumstances proved.
    Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • The report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Wednesday also found that OceanGate, the vessel's operator, did not adequately test Titan or know its actual strength and durability.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
  • As the state continues to cut funding for public education, my concern is making sure that school bathrooms and locker rooms are safe, adequately stocked, clean, and accessible for all students.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The pair keep a relatively low profile but have collaborated on productions including Wickline’s theater project, Dukes Forever, which Hornbuckle directed.
    Alyssa Davis, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Keeping with tradition, ADD Drug’s menu has remained relatively unchanged over the past six decades—including the old-school prices.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • This included key initiatives such as attending overseas markets and conferences, acquiring new IP, and engaging a head of international outreach — all of which were fully approved and communicated with the BFI.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2025
  • For the ecoconscious visitor, Harbor Breeze will soon launch a first-of-its-kind, fully electric whale watching vessel called El Escudo.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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