as in acceptability
the quality or state of meeting one's needs adequately
the fire department sent someone to determine the adequacy of the building's evacuation plan
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Recent Examples of adequacy
Those cracks hadn't been caught in regular maintenance done on the plane, which raised questions about the adequacy of the maintenance schedule.
—
CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
For the better part of eight years after Super Bowl 50, the Broncos were an organization with delusions of adequacy, fielding mediocre teams with major problems with ownership drama, mismanaged rosters, ghost drafts and an endless carousel of underwhelming quarterbacks.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
In his first lead movie role, Tim Robinson plays Craig Waterman, a man whose life of suburban adequacy is disrupted when local weatherman Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd) moves in down the street and platonically sweeps Craig off his feet.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This includes $565 million in adequacy funding, which is distributed to school districts based on a state formula designed to ensure every district has the resources needed to provide an adequate education.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adequacy
CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
For the better part of eight years after Super Bowl 50, the Broncos were an organization with delusions of adequacy, fielding mediocre teams with major problems with ownership drama, mismanaged rosters, ghost drafts and an endless carousel of underwhelming quarterbacks.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026
In his first lead movie role, Tim Robinson plays Craig Waterman, a man whose life of suburban adequacy is disrupted when local weatherman Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd) moves in down the street and platonically sweeps Craig off his feet.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This includes $565 million in adequacy funding, which is distributed to school districts based on a state formula designed to ensure every district has the resources needed to provide an adequate education.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adequacy
Noun
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The second difference is acceptability.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Local private players are learning that being US-aligned is becoming its own form of credibility, an argument for political acceptability and, potentially, financing access.—
Ruben Nyanguila,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The City Clerk is still required to review the petition and determine the sufficiency of the petition, as is dictated by Wisconsin statutes, the city wrote in its post.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the designer explained in his letter that the seasonal campaign is more focused on the theme of dependency and the support of a community, dismissing self sufficiency.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Offered in different flavors, the Strawberry Granola Bites feature a burst of fruity goodness, while the Chocolate Chip Granola Bites combine bits of sweetness with a wholesome mix of oats.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
20 Feb. 2026
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Full of energy and pop goodness, the single feels reminiscent of one of SM Entertainment’s most popular girl groups, Girls’ Generation.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adequacy. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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