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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

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 adequate Such information can be critical for getting adequate payouts. —

Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 23 Jan. 2025 Planting during winter can put too much stress on evergreen plants that are trying to establish roots while also providing adequate water to leaves. —

Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025 The phased timeline aims to give manufacturers adequate time to identify and transition to alternative coloring agents. —

Jesus Mesa, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 Join 192 others in the comments View Comments Limiting restroom access comes at a time when many US cities and suburbs lack adequate public access to them. —

Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for adequate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adequate

Adjective

Many people who celebrated (or joked about the murder) had been hurt by callus policies that made CEOs richer while their family members could not access decent health care.

— Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Fans should have a decent idea about what the WrestleMania 41 main events will look like by spring.

— Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025