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

While guidance about sufficient intake of vitamin D doesn’t change with the seasons, your body’s level of vitamin D can, Ko says. —Stacey Colino, Time, 30 Jan. 2026

Only a stable government can provide sufficient security for the companies to commit to long-term investments. —The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

On her roots, Scarlett went in with the Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Dust It, ensuring there was a sufficient amount of texture and grip there before using a boar-bristle brush to separate the curls on the crown of her head and around the sides. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026

Controls that look sufficient on paper are quickly tested once data is distributed, automated, and reused at scale. —Pam Kaur, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026