ENOUGH Synonyms: 243 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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?

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

enough 1 of 3

adverb

Definition of enough

as in sufficiently

in or to a degree or quantity that meets one's requirements or satisfaction the elevator is big enough to hold everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pretty

to some degree or extent I can play the piano well enough, but I have no hope for a musical career

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in quite

to a full extent or degree I think we're prepared enough—we just lack the will to actually do it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

enough

2 of 3

adjective

as in sufficient

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

enough

3 of 3

noun

as in sufficiency

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

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 enough

Adverb

And as if that wasn’t enough, the P1 has incredible picture quality. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 And speaking of being just long enough, her bangs are just long enough to get stuck in her eyelashes. — Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The technology is still early, and there isn’t enough independent evidence yet to say a camera toothbrush cleans better than a good manual or electric brush used with proper brushing technique. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026 But Daniel Hernandez said the pop-up’s traffic boost may not be enough for that location to survive. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Compounding fears was a terrifying warning from a former AI executive last week that AI could end civilization within a decade and the tech companies aren’t doing enough about it. — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 In 2015, Des Moines Water Works tried to send its bill upstream, suing drainage districts in three northern counties near Palo Alto and accusing them of not doing enough to prevent the funneling of nitrate into the city. — Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enough

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enough

Adverb

Without conflicting appellate decisions, the DOJ would lack a traditional ground for Supreme Court review, though the justices can also hear sufficiently important unresolved federal questions.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Cardtoons won because its alteration of the players’ appearances was deemed sufficiently inventive and, through parody, the cards reflected social commentary protected by the First Amendment that outweighed the players’ publicity rights claims.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of sufficiently

Adverb

Last week’s episode was pretty bad, but this one is even more disappointing in some ways.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2026
What’s more, this new material is actually pretty strong, with 12 MPa compressive strength and 6 MPa flexural strength.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretty

Adjective

That makes the technology particularly interesting for counter-drone missions, where disabling an aircraft’s sensors or critical components may be sufficient to bring it down.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
Despite the claims of any number of charlatans who prey on the American brand of cuddly benighted ignorance, the universe will not manifest an alternate reality for anyone who simply wishes for it with sufficient longing.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of sufficient

Noun

Eco effort Water sufficiency—including water recycling for irrigation in their treatment plant—in a notoriously dry part of the island is a notable part of the resort’s sustainability efforts.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Rex Frazier, a former deputy commissioner at the California Department of Insurance, said that in the situation that the insurers find themselves, the state regulator will be looking at a company’s capital sufficiency.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of sufficiency

Adverb

Pratt said consecutive sentences were necessary to protect the public and punish Flynn, finding the harm caused by his crimes was so severe that a single prison term would not adequately reflect the seriousness of his conduct.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Both the organization and the individual do not adequately prepare for the years that follow.

— Vikas Arora, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of adequately

Adverb

Some say the possibility of being slapped with the fees is a factor in buyers’ waning interest in condos, which have long been a relatively affordable option, at the same time that construction of new condos has continued to lag across the state.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Back in 1964, even a relatively enlightened critic like Robert Shelton, who played a pivotal role in introducing Bob Dylan to a national audience three years before, was a Beatles skeptic.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of relatively

Adverb

Resnikoff fully inhabits the role of Jaku, giving him a distinctive and consistent voice, posture and temperament.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Officials said during the Oval Office event that building the pipeline will take three years and that exports of liquified natural gas would begin two years after that -- but that was dependent on financing coming through fully.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fully

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enormousness

enough

enounce

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“Enough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enough. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of enough

adverb

adjective

noun

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Synonyms of enough

adverb

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

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Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

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