enough 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of enoughnext
1
as in sufficiently
in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction the elevator is big enough to hold everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pretty
to some degree or extent I can play the piano well enough, but I have no hope for a musical career

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quite
to a full extent or degree I think we're prepared enough—we just lack the will to actually do it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enough

2 of 3

adjective

as in sufficient

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

enough

3 of 3

noun

as in sufficiency

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

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

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
The Lululemon Pace Breaker Linerless Shorts are versatile enough for working out, traveling, running errands, or just lounging at home, and the moisture-wicking fabric will keep you dry and comfortable. —Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2026 And who knew the NBA would stretch out this first-round series long enough to give Doncic and Reaves more healing time? —Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
At the suspect’s residence, investigators found enough contraband Lego pieces to fill two garbage bags. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 However, when applied as a top dressing to existing peony beds, compost is usually not enough to fix any phosphorus or potassium deficiencies. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Piech’s recollection of Sora generations were arriving with enough of those qualities to blur the distinction. —Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026 Smith signed his first 10-day on March 14 and added a second on March 25 before doing enough to earn a standard deal and a longer stay in Brooklyn. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
  1. sufficiently
  2. pretty
  3. quite
  4. sufficient
  5. sufficiency
  6. adequately
  7. relatively
  8. fully
Adverb
  • This shortened the skip phase and maintained higher temperatures throughout the descent, ensuring the outer char layer never cooled sufficiently to trap gas beneath it.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • That climax is sufficiently creepy.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026
Definition of sufficiently
Adverb
  • Our fans are still behind us for all 41 home games, and that’s pretty special.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The practice was pretty much unheard of until just after the Civil War, when it was essentially implemented as a way for employers to avoid paying Black workers a fair wage.
    — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adverb
  • Nothing says summer quite like picking the ripe homegrown tomato straight from your garden.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
  • After days of whirlwind weather, Chicagoans can expect to see conditions mellow out this week — but April showers aren’t over quite yet.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of quite
Adjective
  • While building sufficient reserves makes sense in case of a downturn, current conditions do justify pausing contributions.
    — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • If the promise of smashing ratings records wasn’t sufficient to make the World Cup rights-holders giddy, the massive uptick in available inventory puts Fox and Telemundo on enviable footing.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of sufficient
Noun
  • To issue an Amber Alert, law enforcement must determine that specific statutory conditions are met, including the age of the child, law enforcement’s belief in imminent danger of serious injury or death, and the sufficiency of existing information to assist in recovery.
    — Itay Ravid, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The sufficiency of disapproval to derail Trump’s primary immigration enforcement serves as further damning evidence against the companies and entities that so easily and so quickly capitulated to Trump last year.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of sufficiency
Adverb
  • Even the coarsest topsoil, something that would be magical in a vegetable garden, is way to fine-grained to adequately drain if used in a container.
    — Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The state withholds a portion of Harvey’s revenue because of the city’s past failure to adequately fund its police and fire pension funds.
    — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of adequately
Adverb
  • The cuts are required because of employee pay raises, including 23% hikes over three years that were awarded to most workers in 2023, and relatively sluggish growth in city revenue.
    — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Organized as perimeter courtyard blocks, this approach could balance density with green space, support a mix of large and small units, and accommodate both ownership and rental housing within relatively low-cost, midrise buildings.
    — Alicia Pederson, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of relatively
Adverb
  • Small said that even in cases where a person fully recovers from peripartum cardiomyopathy, future pregnancies are considered high-risk.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • But evidence is mounting that applicants with questionable histories were either not fully vetted before they were brought on or were hired in spite of their past, an investigation by The Associated Press found.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of fully

Browse Nearby Words

enormousness
enough
enounce
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Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on enough

Nglish: Translation of enough for Spanish Speakers

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