ADEQUATE Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'adequate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of adequate are competent , enough , and sufficient . While all these words mean "being what is necessary or desirable," adequate may imply barely meeting a requirement. // the service was adequate

Q: When could 'competent' be used to replace 'adequate'?

The words competent and adequate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: How are the words 'enough' and 'sufficient' related as synonyms of 'adequate'?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient . // do you have enough food?

Q: When would 'sufficient' be a good substitute for 'adequate'?

Although the words sufficient and adequate have much in common, sufficient suggests a close meeting of a need. // sufficient savings

adequate

adjective

ˈa-di-kwət

Definition of adequate next

as in decent

of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards this old computer is probably adequate if you just want to type a term paper

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How does the adjective adequate contrast with its synonyms?

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

the service was adequate

When could competent be used to replace adequate?

The words competent and adequate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 as synonyms of adequate?

Enough is less exact in suggestion than sufficient.

do you have enough food?

When would sufficient be a good substitute for adequate?

Although the words sufficient and adequate have much in common, 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 adequate Advertisement —Finding adequate offensive linemen in the portal, on the other hand, has been a mixed bag at best. —

Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024 Cellebrite and other digital forensic companies also must conduct adequate due diligence to ensure that their products are not used in a way which contributes to human rights abuses. —

Umar Shakir, The Verge, 16 Dec. 2024 One of the most significant issues with contemporary pet-keeping practices is our failure to provide them adequate opportunities to do the meaningful work of being dogs. —

Jessica Pierce, TIME, 15 Dec. 2024 The oversized squishy tires provide adequate comfort. —

New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adequate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adequate

Adjective

Also worth noting is a decent sale on shares at present, with MFIC trading at a 7% discount to net asset value (NAV).

Brett Owens, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
DocuSign was up 27% Friday alone on a decent quarterly report, and has doubled from the early-August low.

Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024