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 president has consistently misrepresented his tariffs, claiming despite evidence to the contrary that foreign governments would pay them and that the revenues would be sufficient to pay down the national debt and give taxpayers a dividend check. —Josh Boak, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026

Jeane asked if the 20% budget cuts requested across the board would be sufficient. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026

In January, after a six-day preliminary hearing, a Superior Court judge found there was sufficient evidence for the case against Price to go to trial. —City News Service, Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026

Last year, court filings said families and monitors at federal facilities reported contaminated food and a lack of access to medical care or sufficient legal counsel. —Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026