ADEQUATE Synonyms: 150 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'adequate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of adequate are competent , enough , and sufficient . While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement. // the service was adequate

Q: When could 'competent' be used to replace 'adequate'?

The words competent and adequate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: How are the words 'enough' and 'sufficient' related as synonyms of 'adequate'?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient . // do you have enough food?

Q: When would 'sufficient' be a good substitute for 'adequate'?

Although the words sufficient and adequate have much in common, sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need. // sufficient savings

adequate

adjective

ˈa-di-kwət

Definition of adequate

as in decent

of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards this old computer is probably adequate if you just want to type a term paper

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How does the adjective adequate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of adequate are competent, enough, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When could competent be used to replace adequate?

The words competent and adequate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 as synonyms of adequate?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would sufficient be a good substitute for adequate?

Although the words sufficient and adequate have much in common, 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 adequate Miller claims that the new proof hinges heavily on his prior work and that Astra did not give that work adequate attribution. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026 These include moving your legs and feet, short movement breaks, adequate hydration, and wearing compression stockings. — Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026 The incident intensified debate over the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems and whether companies developing them can provide adequate oversight. — Harshita Mary Varghese, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 Some said the outcome is likely if the industry fails to impose adequate safeguards, while others cast doubt on it as vague and far-fetched. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adequate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adequate

Adjective

Food and drink The property’s on-site restaurant serves decent New American fare in a room that offers the same excellent views as the penthouses, or on the hotel’s delightful terrace during the warmer months.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
Iwelumo was a decent, albeit nomadic, forward who played professionally for almost two decades.

— Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of decent

Adjective

Not ready for prime time The video-generation technology rarely gets the content right on its first try, Sun said, adding that her team takes at least 10 attempts to create a satisfactory 15-second clip.

— Ling Wei, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
The ride quality in my tester was more than satisfactory; a good thing given the infamous Atlanta traffic.

— Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

Americans deserve the facts and can decide for themselves whether this looks like acceptable governance or something closer to self-dealing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
The film, built around interviews with 24 anonymous Israeli intelligence and military officers and soldiers, alleges the Israel Defense Forces set acceptable numbers of civilian deaths in Gaza in pursuit of Hamas targets.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of acceptable

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adequacy

adequate

adequately

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“Adequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adequate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of adequate

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