acceptable

adjective

ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl How to pronounce acceptable (audio)
Definition of acceptablenext
as in adequate
of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards told the bike rental man that a ten-speed with four broken gears was not acceptable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 acceptable In the 2026 session, the Legislature passed HB 991, an elections bill that requires strict proof of citizenship to vote and reduces the forms of photo ID that are acceptable at the polls. — Eric "doc" Stelnicki, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026 But the result, a 1-0 extra-time victory for Spain over Argentina, felt like the only acceptable result. — Sean Gregory, Time, 20 July 2026 The leader who waits until the last moment, then announces that no acceptable replacement exists, has usually engineered that very outcome by waiting. — Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026 Readings between 51-100, or yellow on the index, mean the air is acceptable, though there may be risks for people unusually sensitive to air pollution. — Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for acceptable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acceptable
  1. adequate
  2. satisfactory
  3. decent
  4. fine
  5. good
  6. OK
Adjective
  • People should look for air purifiers to remove pollutants from entering inside a person’s home, and people can also make their own DIY purifier using a box fan and adequate HEPA filters.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026
  • Without body camera footage and time to reevaluate, there won’t be adequate answers.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
Definition of adequate
Adjective
  • Even a successful ground invasion would not guarantee a satisfactory outcome unless political leaders had a credible plan for the post-invasion governance and order.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • IQAir expects the air quality index (AQI) to improve throughout the day Monday, even reaching the green level that is considered satisfactory.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Definition of satisfactory
Adjective
  • But at a time when the physical element of football is at risk of overpowering the technical side, a decent fix is playing matches in conditions where relentless sprinting simply isn’t possible.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • But Nickel had a solid spring, flashing a strong arm, decent accuracy and an ability to throw deftly on the run.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of decent
Adjective
  • That said, France were favourites in the last final and Argentina beat them, albeit by the finest of margins, recovering from the shock of Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick before holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The study combines fine-scale meteorology with detailed simulations of energy infrastructure.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • Norway enjoyed their best World Cup ever, reaching the quarter-finals and beating Brazil along the way, and Haaland was at the centre of their success.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Apart from Luke, the crew has a good-ish day welcoming Suzanne, Amy, and the bachelors onboard.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of good
Adjective
  • After a couple of rounds of throwing up and an evaluation by the doctor, Coop is okay, but the whole thing puts a fright into the crew, and especially into Joy.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
  • The Last Of Us did an okay job with its first season, but completely crashed out in Season 2 on HBO.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of OK

Browse Nearby Words

acceptability
acceptable
acceptably
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Cite this Entry

“Acceptable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acceptable. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acceptable

Nglish: Translation of acceptable for Spanish Speakers

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