enough 1 of 3

Definition of enoughnext
1
2
3

enough

2 of 3

adjective

enough

3 of 3

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
If that wasn’t bad enough, the dead satellites would start crashing into things, creating cascades of high-speed debris that could destroy most remaining satellites in a catastrophic domino effect called Kessler syndrome. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 By 1995, the two had reconciled enough to work together on a Designing Women spinoff, Women of the House. — Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Sharp lapels gave the piece a defining, almost severe quality, while the slightly baggy trousers were designed with enough tailoring to maintain a sense of power and purpose. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 Although an impressive result for a nearly three-hour original comedic drama, those returns weren’t enough to get the movie out of the red. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
The 60th anniversary A media franchise reaching its 60th anniversary is a massive deal, but is Paramount doing enough to celebrate one of its crown jewels becoming a sexagenarian? — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Marshall made a great catch in Friday’s preseason finale but didn’t do enough during camp to earn a job. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • If vMVPD growth is no longer seen as sufficiently compensatory for the snowballing losses among the legacy pay-TV players, MoffettNathanson analysts believe the steep declines of the last five years will level out by the close of the decade.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • MILKist led the initial research and technical formulation, striving to make a sufficiently strong sheet from 100 percent barley straw without adding other fibers or binders.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Bell’s effectiveness was pretty representative of the offense as a whole which, despite Achane’s absence, finished with 321 total yards, roughly 13 less than the Chiefs.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Mini is much cheaper, and pretty mighty given its weight and size.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Nothing hits quite like a pair of $39 Levi’s jeans, and this perfectly stretchy, dark-wash option is just what the doctor ordered.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026
  • But just outside the factory doors, time hasn't been quite as kind.
    — Itay Hod, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The United States is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with sufficient hardware to deter any armed attack from the mainland.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The opportunity for flexible schedules, remote work and adjusting work hours due to caring duties can provide employees with sufficient breathing room while still being engaged in their careers.
    — Scott Parrish, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Rex Frazier, a former deputy commissioner at the California Department of Insurance, said that in the situation that the insurers find themselves, the state regulator will be looking at a company’s capital sufficiency.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, the case has remained in the pleading stage, where the county has challenged the sufficiency of the claims without answering them, and the child’s attorneys have revised their complaint three times.
    — Bay City News, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • These had worked adequately for isolated farmers, but too many could overwhelm the absorptive capacity of the ground—especially if sprinklers were watering the lawns—causing effluent to rise to the surface or enter waterways.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • If De Soto decides to adopt a new noise ordinance as the city looks to determine whether the current rules adequately addresses industrial noise, Digital Realty would have to adhere to any changes, city attorney Reavey said.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • With housing prices high across the region, Kuna has lately emerged as an attractive — and relatively affordable — bedroom community for workers in other Treasure Valley cities.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The findings could help researchers extract more energy from sulfur, an abundant and relatively inexpensive material already being explored as an alternative to cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • The federal tax credit is also fully stackable on top of other state credits, which have already gotten pretty aggressive.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Borrowers must have been assessed an ATM access fee or other charge fee that was not fully reimbursed by their bank.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster