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 The traction proved to be sufficient, the laces are durable, and the style is clean and crisp. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025 Morris said that the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has long lacked sufficient enforcement power. Mel Leonor Barclay, Them., 15 Apr. 2025 Typically, a food mill with a 2-quart capacity is sufficient when cooking for a family of four. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 Routh's defense attorneys are seeking their own independent analysis of whether the gun would have fired if Routh had pulled the trigger, and whether the distance of a bullet fired from the gun would have been sufficient to hit Trump. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sufficient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufficient
Adjective
  • But as the mental health conditions among youth have become increasingly severe following the COVID-19 pandemic, more families are turning to desperate measures to find adequate care for their children.
    Michaela Ramm, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Although emergency departments might have adequate staff at off times, other hospital resources might be limited at night and on weekends, which could be a problem in these emergencies, Johns said.
    Neha Mukherjee, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Multi: Multi-ground (MG) cleats are designed to achieve reasonable levels of traction, grip and control on as many types of ground as possible.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Read has pleaded not guilty, denied killing O'Keefe and alleged she is being framed, attempting to sow reasonable doubt in prosecutors' claims and asserting that someone else killed O'Keefe and had ties to and influence over the investigation.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 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 surgery was difficult due to Bolsonaro’s prior surgeries and stab wound, but Sunday’s procedure did not have unexpected complications and the result was satisfactory, doctors said, adding that hospital visits for now should be limited to family.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
  • According to the complaint, Combs allegedly said the act wasn’t satisfactory and threatened Doe with violence afterward.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Food and Nutrition Board has not established a tolerable upper limit (TUL) for folate in foods, as there have not been reports of adverse events from excess folate.1 A TUL refers to the highest daily amount of a nutrient that can be safely consumed by a healthy individual.
    Jennifer Lefton, MS, RD/N, CNSC, FAND, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • But there are some breeds known for being more tolerable for people with allergies.
    Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The former Washington Husky has had a decent start to his 2025 season.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Thus far, Wall Street has had a decent start to the first-quarter earnings season.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufficient. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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