Synonyms of competent

competent

adjective

ˈkäm-pə-tənt 

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

• qualified
• suitable
• capable
• good
• able
• expert
• fit
• skilled
• experienced
• equal
• proficient
• skillful
• adept
• prepared
• ready
• on the ball
• seasoned
• accomplished
• willing
• veteran
• trained
• masterful
• masterly
• ace
• practised
• master
• practiced
• versatile
• apt
• overqualified
• schooled
• all-round
• protean
• all-around

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incompetent
• poor
• unqualified
• unfit
• inept
• inexperienced
• unskilled
• untrained
• unfitted
• unprepared
• new
• beginning
• inexpert
• green
• unseasoned
• raw
• unskillful
• untested
• untried
• unschooled

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

• justified
• deserved
• legal
• suitable
• proper
• appropriate
• rightful
• legitimate
• due
• right
• fair
• warranted
• just
• merited
• condign
• requisite
• meet
• applicable
• lawful
• fitting
• strict
• correct
• equitable
• accurate
• apt
• impartial
• fit
• true
• stringent
• uncompromising
• square
• rhadamanthine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unfair
• irrelevant
• undue
• unjust
• unjustified
• unwarranted
• improper
• unreasonable
• incorrect
• undeserved
• incoherent
• inappropriate
• unsuitable
• partial
• inapplicable
• biased
• unjustifiable
• unequal
• indefensible
• irrelative
• arbitrary
• unmerited
• inequitable
• unlawful
• inapt
• despotic
• illegitimate
• inapposite

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective competent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of competent are adequate, enough, and sufficient. While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," 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

When could adequate be used to replace competent?

The words adequate and competent can be used in similar contexts, but adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

How are the words enough and sufficient related as synonyms of competent?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When is sufficient a more appropriate choice than competent?

The meanings of sufficient and competent largely overlap; however, sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of competent

And when patients are finally seen, the care itself might not be competent. —Rebecca Nagle, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025

After seven hours of watching these people lumber around this fragile world, no one stands out as competent enough or sinister enough to commit a murder on purpose. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025

To ensure competent engagement in critical AI governance decisions, effective directors require at least a foundational level of AI competency, if not more. —John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

And the American people should be grateful to these individuals and especially to President Trump for putting together such a competent and highly qualified team who are killing terrorists that the Biden administration allowed to run wild in the Middle East. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025