COMPETENT Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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?

Q: 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

competent

adjective

ˈkäm-pə-tənt

Definition of competent next

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

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

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

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of competent Despite that, Judge Terence Perkins found Depa competent to stand trial, noting that Davis’ evaluation was more recent, that Depa had so far behaved well at court and that his answers regarding what the legal proceedings meant were as good as could be expected of a teen. —

Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 Perhaps disruption, then, is the real point, as DOGE measures drag out in courts, competent public servants exit and presidential powers further rise unchecked. —

Thomas J. Greitens, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2025 She is viewed at City Hall as competent and hard-working. —

Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025 People who brag about their stress levels at work are seen as ‘less competent and less warm’ by their peers, according to a University of Georgia study published in Personnel Psychology. —

Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for competent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for competent

Adjective

The Texas Compassionate Use Act permits the sale of marijuana products to qualified consumers with maladies like MS and cancer.

John Burnett, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
In many cases, this can lead to business failures, even with highly qualified employees and leaders.

Martin Zwilling, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025