sufficient

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sufficient contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sufficient are adequate, competent, and enough. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

When might adequate be a better fit than sufficient?

The synonyms adequate and sufficient are sometimes interchangeable, but adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

Where would competent be a reasonable alternative to sufficient?

Although the words competent and sufficient have much in common, 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

How are the words enough and sufficient related?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

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 sufficient More traditional air cooling was sufficient for previous generations of Nvidia chips. Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 July 2025 Just what figure Tan has in mind as being sufficient to even consider a sale is unknown outside the club’s hierarchy but what isn’t in doubt is how integral the Malaysian businessman has been to Cardiff staying afloat financially. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 July 2025 Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at The Atlantic Council, said that a three-week delay in imposing the tariffs was unlikely sufficient for meaningful talks to take place. arkansasonline.com, 8 July 2025 While domestic sourcing was sufficient for cuttings of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Zinfandel, and Carignan (which here goes by its Sicilian name, Nerello Capuccio), Harvey and Brinkman are the first people to import Carricante and Nerello Mascalese vines into the United States. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufficient
Adjective
  • However, other people who lived in the area said their wireless coverage was adequate and did not think constructing a new tower was necessary.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • For minimalists, a smaller organizer will be adequate and less obtrusive.
    Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Invoking Section 15 of Article 17, the NFL wants Droney to order payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs—about $12 million.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
  • This projection appears reasonable considering that the current effective tariff rate of the U.S. has increased five-fold this year to roughly 16% according to the Yale Budget Lab.
    Nick Sargen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Perhaps whatever was negotiated and making budget projections acceptable.
    Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
  • Although it’s popularly practiced by many women, Joey Fatone and Jax Taylor are among the famous men who have proudly spoken about receiving plastic surgery to destigmatize the notion that such operations are acceptable for people of certain genders.
    Maria Yagoda, People.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The other specs are perfectly satisfactory for a model at this price.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 9 July 2025
  • Synan’s attorney declined to comment on a similar question, as well as a question about whether the resignation is a satisfactory outcome for the police chief.
    Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The shift in climate also means more frequent severe weather events and more tolerable conditions for invasive species to thrive in the state.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
  • Side effects can vary, too, sometimes making one medication more tolerable than the another.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a decent chance the Dolphins will need Wilson early in the season and late.
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • The transparency mode is decent and keeps your surroundings sounding natural.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufficient. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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