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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 lockbox is compact enough to fit in a carry-on bag or weekender tote, and has a tethering cable to affix it to a secure object. Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026 Here, the bedding itself extends low enough to conceal the bed frame. Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 14 June 2026
Adjective
That should be enough to pique the interest of most collectors out there, but, if not, the vehicle is also one of just 101 imported to the EU. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 June 2026 The launch comes as countries and technology companies race to secure enough computing power to train and run increasingly sophisticated AI models. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026
Noun
Despite the consensus, the government is not doing enough to rein in the food industry that produces these products, according to top researchers. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 June 2026 Washington has accused Beijing of failing to do enough to stop the sale of precursor chemicals, an allegation China has dismissed. Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • Texas is currently in a drought, with some farmers unable to sufficiently water their crops or livestock.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 9 Dec. 2025
  • In the Pyrenees, a couple try to live self-sufficiently in terms of food and energy.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 25 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • First of all, the president’s name is redacted throughout, yet everything else seems pretty familiar to me.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
  • After the two hitters, the two outs felt pretty good.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Adverb
  • The Brazilians aren’t quite ready to take it yet.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • But Mbappé couldn't quite get there in time.
    NBC News, NBC news, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Consuming sufficient dietary sources of zinc is essential for maintaining health, but when dietary sources are insufficient, a zinc supplement may be beneficial.
    Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2025
  • The working groups would initially be tasked with reaching consensus on the elements of a settlement and developing sufficient detail on implementation so that the parties can sign a framework agreement and put a cease-fire in place.
    Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • What’s worrying to him is that abundance can masquerade as sufficiency.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 June 2026
  • Some have raised concerns about the cleanup’s sufficiency.
    Michelle de la Uz, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
Adverb
  • The family additionally alleges that Roblox failed to adequately disclose the risks children face on the platform.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
  • The other workgroup will look into whether the A-G high school courses adequately prepare students for success at the UC.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
Adverb
  • So while on paper Mecklenburg’s child care system appears relatively stable — roughly 500 licensed providers, a net gain of licensed slots last year, no mass wave of closures — Hazeldine says that’s an incomplete picture.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
  • The anchor-and-attach approach would use a claw-and-spike mechanism at the tip of the robotic arm to grapple and anchor to the asteroid—assuming, that is, that Kamo‘oalewa’s surface is sturdy and relatively obstacle-free.
    Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 11 June 2026
Adverb
  • The skydiver fell about 7,000 feet from the plane before the main lines fully unwound from the dangling reserve line and functioned normally for the remainder of the descent, the report said.
    Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Several weapons were also recovered from the Manteca home including a fully automatic AR-15 rifle, Sutter County sheriff’s officials said.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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