Synonyms of sufficient

sufficient

adjective

as in adequate

Related Words

• adequate
• reasonable
• acceptable
• satisfactory
• tolerable
• decent
• all right
• sufficing
• OK
• ordinary
• medium
• common
• passable
• indifferent
• fair
• moderate
• middling
• mediocre
• modest
• alright
• second-class
• minimal
• run-of-the-mine
• so-so
• presentable
• respectable
• second-rate
• run-of-the-mill
• nice
• unexceptional
• fine
• good

Dissimilar Words

• maximum
• excellent
• special
• optimal
• great
• optimum
• outstanding
• superior
• distinguished
• prime
• exceptional
• superb
• supreme
• splendid
• terrific
• top
• first-class
• marvelous
• choice
• exquisite
• stellar
• superlative
• fantastic
• grand
• capital
• sterling
• classic
• swell
• par excellence
• fabulous
• peerless
• sensational
• number one
• nifty
• A1
• insufficient
• preeminent
• unparalleled
• first-rate
• matchless
• inadequate
• unsurpassed
• unmatched
• top-notch
• lacking
• tip-top
• deficient
• unsatisfactory
• wanting
• unacceptable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sufficient contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sufficient are adequate, competent, and enough. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

When might adequate be a better fit than sufficient?

The synonyms adequate and sufficient are sometimes interchangeable, but adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

Where would competent be a reasonable alternative to sufficient?

Although the words competent and sufficient have much in common, 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

How are the words enough and sufficient related?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sufficient

The new lawsuit After Van Houten determined there was not sufficient evidence to press criminal charges, the case laid low for a while. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Those levies were under scrutiny Wednesday, when judges pressed the administration on whether Greer had sufficient justification. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

There was a time when physicians could largely focus on clinical care while administrators managed the business because reimbursement was sufficient to support most organizational needs. — Dr William Wertheim, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

This would keep storage levels sufficient and allow power companies and countries to get a better head start on refilling natural-gas storage for next year. — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026