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Definition of enoughnext
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enough

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adjective

enough

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective enough contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enough are adequate, competent, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would adequate be a good substitute for enough?

Although the words adequate and enough have much in common, adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When is it sensible to use competent instead of enough?

The words competent and enough can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is sufficient a more appropriate choice than enough?

The synonyms sufficient and enough are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 enough
Adverb
This artistry is perhaps most evident during character introductions, key in short fiction, when personalities must enter the page memorably enough to keep track of but quickly enough not to derail momentum. Literary Hub, 14 July 2026 Playing at home, Kyle Schwarber did just enough to advance to the second round, even if Harper didn’t. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
Adjective
Even the idyllic island on which the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron) is keeping an amnesiac Odysseus when the film begins is depicted as a windswept sandbar that looks in danger of being washed away by a strong-enough storm. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 July 2026 Bunch appears to have enough support on the board that would maintain his control until the midterms this year, and even until 2029. News Desk, Artforum, 15 July 2026
Noun
Literally, Pharaoh used the didn't-get-enough-sleep excuse for the navigation errors, which doesn't cut it even in Boy Scouts. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Americans are saving more for the future but are anxious about their ability to do enough. Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • Everything from the environments to the tasks to the specific objects being manipulated can be carefully selected to show just what’s possible if all this could be sufficiently generalized—but that generalization is not yet proven.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
  • Manzambi scored three goals and registered two assists in four games, but missed the Colombia penalty victory with a knock and did not recover sufficiently to face Argentina.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Adverb
  • The stakes are pretty high to keep the air conditioning going.
    Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Term lengths range from 12 to 24 months, which is pretty on par with that of other lenders in the space.
    Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 14 July 2026
Adverb
  • Mac still hasn’t quite put everything back together again, even after a rookie season that was eerily close to Nix’s numbers in 2024.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 July 2026
  • Sure, nothing on the road turns heads quite like a hot rod or vintage vehicle in pristine condition.
    Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • If the judge finds there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, Robinson will be arraigned and enter pleas.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • As a result, cash flow is no longer sufficient to keep feeding the beast, prompting companies to issue bonds and fresh stock.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • This freedom includes the expression of health, harmony, sufficiency, and the ability to think and act rightly.
    Rob Nofsinger, Christian Science Monitor, 10 July 2026
  • Owners discovered that a small flock fits neatly into a suburban routine and pays back in eggs, entertainment and a sense of self-sufficiency.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Adverb
  • Year over year, the basin has experienced reduced supply, often combined with a string of very dry years, and the river system has never been able to adequately rebuild its supply.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • The hospital said all units operated without issue, while nurses said the emergency department did not respond adequately to a woman suffering a medical emergency outside the hospital.
    O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 10 July 2026
Adverb
  • BoccaLupo isn’t known for happy hour, but their tasting menu is a great way to experience a lot for a relatively low price.
    Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Deuterium is relatively easy to harvest from water, but tritium is trickier.
    David Szondy July 05, New Atlas, 5 July 2026
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, Israeli attacks, though lessened, have not fully abated, with near-daily strikes killing at least 1,072 people since the ceasefire took effect.
    Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Looking ahead, 74 percent of retail executives expect to deploy AI at scale within the next 12 months, which places the sector among the fastest across all industries to fully adopt the technology.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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