1
as in qualified
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance
any competent mechanic should be able to fix that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justified
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
the arbiter has all the necessary information to make a competent decision on the matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competent
The case will continue to trial if Gledhill is later found to be competent.
—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Until that foundation is in place, the central question is not simply whether AI is competent, but what the AI leads the patient to believe and who is responsible for that belief.
—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 2026
The humor came from watching competent people freeze, hedge and stop trying because the target kept moving.
—
Bob Batchelor,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
About a month ago, a psychologist found that McGuire was competent.
—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for competent
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
Until that foundation is in place, the central question is not simply whether AI is competent, but what the AI leads the patient to believe and who is responsible for that belief.
—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
20 June 2026
The humor came from watching competent people freeze, hedge and stop trying because the target kept moving.
—
Bob Batchelor,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
About a month ago, a psychologist found that McGuire was competent.
—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for competent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competent
Adjective
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The actor is certainly qualified to share guidance, as he's been married to Rita Wilson for nearly four decades.
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Duffy said the move was intended to hold states accountable for ensuring only qualified and properly vetted drivers were allowed behind the wheel of commercial trucks.
Adjective
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If that underlying logic is stripped away, policymakers may feel justified in reversing these successful, health-promoting policies.
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These are entirely justified responses to Russian strikes against our state.
Adjective
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There is also an abundance of suitable training facilities in the region, which is in the circuit of MLS preseason destinations.
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The modular, and containerized electromagnetic aircraft launch system is capable of deploying drones from almost any suitable location.
Adjective
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Germany's head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, gave Ecuador its deserved praise for the win today, saying his own team failed to find its rhythm in the second half.
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Two families continue to carry burdens that neither asked for nor deserved.
Adjective
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That window is shorter than most executives assume, as mental and physical declines often begin earlier than midlife, while the leader still feels fully capable and engaged.
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The lower the number, the brighter the object, with the human eye capable of spotting targets down to a magnitude of +6 from a dark sky location.
Adjective
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Months of legal jostling leading up to the hearing centered largely on media access.
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Lawyers remained advocates for private clients, but Wilson increasingly described them as participants in preserving the legal order upon which republican government depended.
Adjective
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Families, educators and advocates described barriers to accessing proper support and services.
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Heat this severe can affect anyone without proper cooling or hydration, according to the weather service.
Cite this Entry
“Competent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competent. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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