sufficient

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

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 sufficient Another amendment directed the auditor to consider whether the divisions’ funding and staffing were sufficient, how any funding and staffing changes would impact the programs, and if their benefits were accessible. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025 The heuristics and methodologies that proved adequate for crypto's early days must now demonstrate scientific rigor sufficient for courtrooms and criminal prosecutions. Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 Months later, after a sufficient number of delegates to the electoral college had been flipped, Hayes was declared the winner via a highly unusual set of circumstances. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2025 However, a second-inning RBI single from Grisham off Rays starter Drew Rasmussen proved to be sufficient after Fernando Cruz and Luke Weaver took care of the eighth and ninth innings. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufficient
Adjective
  • Vitamin D Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels promotes healthy aging.
    Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025
  • Original price: $99.99 The Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser includes pulse-modulation technology to remove plaque and enhance gum stimulation for adequate improved circulation.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Eureka Innova Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum for $207: This is a good stick vacuum at a reasonable price.
    Nena Farrell, Wired News, 3 May 2025
  • There is no sustainable or reasonable way to make rent costs come down for New Yorkers, particularly at the lower income bands, without simply constructing a lot more housing in general.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • But the concept is something that may not be acceptable to the public.
    TIME Staff, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Suicide and euthanasia are never morally acceptable options.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The findings are available to the public at cdc.gov, with a score of 86 and above deemed satisfactory and anything under considered unsatisfactory.
    Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The player: Luis Ortiz Ortiz’s first three starts, respectively, could be classified as ugly, satisfactory and excellent.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Working with a contraceptive drug that transforms into crystals suspended in a solvent, the shot could solidify into a drug deposit beneath the skin without the need of large amounts of polymers, allowing it to be injected through thinner, more tolerable needles.
    Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025
  • For law firms and legal departments considering AI adoption, the risk becomes more tolerable as AI tools improve in accuracy, reliability.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Edwards landed a decent percentage of his strikes at 66 percent, but the pressure from Muhammad limited his attempts to just 71 significant strikes.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • And even after the outings that are just decent, the Phillies can see it.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufficient. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sufficient

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