enough 1 of 3

1
2
3

enough

2 of 3

adjective

enough

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective enough contrast with its synonyms?

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

do you have enough food?

When would adequate be a good substitute for enough?

Although the words adequate and enough have much in common, adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement.

the service was adequate

When is it sensible to use competent instead of enough?

The words competent and enough can be used in similar contexts, but 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 is sufficient a more appropriate choice than enough?

The synonyms sufficient and enough are sometimes interchangeable, but sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need.

sufficient savings

Examples 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 enough
Adverb
Plants and their parts are useful crime evidence because plant cell walls, spores, and pollens are distinctive enough to be recognizable and are composed of strong compounds that are resistant to destruction over prolonged periods of time. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Side sleepers might benefit from a mattress that’s soft enough to cushion their hips and shoulders but firm enough to support proper spinal alignment. Heather Cruickshank, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The Nelson Trust, which William visited, will help professionals across a range of support organizations are better trained and equipped to help women who have experienced trauma. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Simon Perry, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024 Weeks of polling had showed the candidates competing in a razor-close election, but in the end Trump won over enough pivotal states with his focus on inflation and immigration. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enough 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough
Adverb
  • Humans are pretty tiny creatures living on a really large sphere.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
  • The nature is pretty cool My ship’s route from the St. Lawrence to the Atlantic Ocean was a beautiful one, filled with islands ringed in red-earthed cliffs and dark, forested riversides.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • His mimicry of Satchmo, the baseline test all these shows must pass, really is quite impressive.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Just like many areas that saw a surge of visitors seeking outdoor adventure during COVID, Sedona’s popularity—which was already quite high—soared further.
    Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): Covers your damages if the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance.
    Nia Bowers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • In his experience, basic liposuction, when done well and on the appropriate patient, provides sufficient tightening on its own.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Here, the Kremlin is likely to adopt an approach that corresponds with the Soviet principle of reasonable sufficiency.
    Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2015
  • And as climate change supercharges hurricanes, which are fueled by warm water and air, the sufficiency of the system's five categories is increasingly coming into question.
    Alec Luhn, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024
Adverb
  • The reality is stark … our schools are being asked to do more with less, while the state continues to collect taxes without adequately redistributing those funds to where they are most needed.
    Quintin Shepherd, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • This week a London High Court judge ruled that it had been adequately served and Columbia can continue with their lawsuit.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • As Bitcoin Suddenly Surges Toward $100,000 Price Now Hackers Are Using Snail Mail In Cyber Attacks—Here’s How On the flip side, though, J&J also has some relatively older drugs that face generic competition and have seen their sales fall.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • He was backed by five, relatively understated by contrast, musicians who ripped.
    Ramon Ramirez, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • However, depending on the terms of your policy, certain types of damage might not be fully covered.
    Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024
  • For example, walking beside someone, being on their side and helping carry their load are ways to be fully present and with another person, your friend.
    Walt Shelton, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Children are living in tents without adequate access to safe water, sanitation or adequate protection from the elements.
    Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson said with recent staff increases at the 911 call center, there should be adequate staffing during the arctic blast unless weather conditions make travel challenging.
    Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near enough

Cite this Entry

“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on enough

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!