Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective competent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of competent are adequate, enough, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," 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 could adequate be used to replace competent?

The words adequate and competent can be used in similar contexts, but adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

How are the words enough and sufficient related as synonyms of competent?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When is sufficient a more appropriate choice than competent?

The meanings of sufficient and competent largely overlap; however, 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 competent After the defense’s performance with more man concepts in place, is there hope that this unit might actually be competent enough to help out its offense? Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2025 An elder-care assistant needs a verifiable history of respectful, competent service. Jan Liphardt, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 Passing them will ensure that my son, and thousands of others like him, have access to competent and inclusive health care. Maura Sullivan, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025 Any competent center has exposed Elliott this season. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for competent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competent
Adjective
  • The team could be evaluating any number of qualified candidates, but one future Hall of Fame player is generating the most buzz.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Many qualified workers will choose to move offshore and work from there to avoid the visa fee.
    Ben Zweig, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • If the current fiscal package is estimated to not only cover its costs but grow the economy too, the path is justified, argued Zandi.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Who can claim this jumble of junior-varsity field hockey teams, center-justified poetry, and polyester tux jackets as their intellectual property?
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This breakthrough could lead to the development of more reliable, next-generation sensors suitable for applications ranging from medical monitoring to energy storage systems.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Less suitable is the club’s goalkeeping.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Can that work in the big leagues, where the manager is usually a glorified PR staffer who talks to the media and takes the blame (deserved or not) for losses?
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The result is a deserved cult film that promotes feminism and features some bona fide scares.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One arrangement could support powerful quantum computers capable of solving problems beyond the reach of today’s machines.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Melissa is expected to unleash extreme winds exceeding 160 mph, a storm surge of 9 to 13 feet, and torrential rainfall capable of triggering catastrophic flooding and landslides.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The document stated that NFL personnel may participate in legal non-sports gambling on personal time (when not traveling on club or league business), including during the season.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Through the third quarter of this year, legal sports betting generated $10 billion in revenue, up about 19% from the same period a year ago, according to the American Gaming Association.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When using hydrogen peroxide, wear protective gloves and eyewear to avoid irritation, ensure proper ventilation, and never mix it with bleach, ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaning agents.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Competent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competent. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on competent

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