SUFFICIENT Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: How are the words 'enough' and 'sufficient' related?

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

sufficient

adjective

Definition of sufficient

as in adequate

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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 Resolving those issues is important because the weapon must not merely demonstrate its performance during testing but also be manufactured consistently and supplied in sufficient numbers. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, investors have begun selling off the bonds backing some data centers, primarily over fears that AI revenues won’t be sufficient to cover the massive sums that have been borrowed to finance the building of the centers. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026 Even with a sufficient breeze, sailing yachts burn fossil fuels to power HVAC, cooking equipment, and outlets. — Sal Vaglica, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Selenis added that sufficient local funding is essential for securing state and federal matching dollars and making these repairs. — Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sufficient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufficient

Adjective

Restaurants, grocery stores and shops depend on deliveries, yet too many commercial corridors lack adequate loading zones.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
In our view, it was rushed and flawed, without an adequate evaluation framework to judge proposals fairly or fully measure their value to tourism.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of adequate

Adjective

For properties other than single-family homes and duplexes, the statute addresses reasonable provisions for clean and safe common areas along with services such as garbage removal and extermination of certain pests.

— Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
These are reasonable explanations for a temporary change, Desai says.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reasonable

Adjective

Voters who do not have an acceptable photo ID may be able to cast a ballot using an alternative document and, in some cases, sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration.

— S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
The other, which boards discuss privately far more than publicly, is what the regulator will permit and what’s politically acceptable in each market.

— Ciaran Cosgrave, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of acceptable

Adjective

An uninterrupted trip Stoliker thinks chaos is not a satisfactory explanation for psychedelics’ effect on the brain.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
After months of negotiations failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, the union approved strike action earlier this month in a vote held in tandem with unions at the Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfactory

Adjective

While no postponements or cancellations have been announced, security teams are undoubtedly assessing what level of risk is tolerable for the titans of the global economy.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Or good people have other reasons for finding that bad thing to be tolerable.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of tolerable

Adjective

The role of a legitimate people’s government is to level the playing field between the billionaires and the rest of us who are just trying to provide ourselves with decent, dignified lives and get ahead.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Like any decent strength coach, Potts and his staff hold their athletes to the consistent standard of challenging themselves.

— PJ Green October 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decent

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sufficiency

sufficient

sufficiently

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“Sufficient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufficient. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sufficient

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