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

These and other factors mean that there were plenty of reasons to think that the model wouldn’t be sufficient to handle real-world data. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

Floating in them until the bottom blends into the color of the sky is a sufficient plan for your day. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

In other words, support for religious pluralism, on its own, isn’t sufficient to reduce the sense of threat among those who hold Christian nationalist views. — Paul Djupe, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Weeding weekly for about an hour is sufficient for medium-sized gardens. — Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026