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Ahava_yin Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

satisfactory, satisfying

Hi,

I looked up in the dictionary and found that both of the two words can mean giving satisfaction.

In the following sentence, can I use either of them?

One charm of Christmas is receiving gifts. While giving presents can be very satisfying.

Thank you!
  

Top answer

We can talk about a satisfying experience, a satisfying meal, something that leaves us physically or emotionally satisfied. Satisfactory is more a judgement about something. A teacher may consider a pupil's performance satisfactory, meaning not excellent but good enough.

— J Lewis

  • We can talk about a satisfying experience, a satisfying meal, something that leaves us physically or emotionally satisfied.
  • Satisfactory is more a judgement about something.
  • A teacher may consider a pupil's performance satisfactory, meaning not excellent but good enough.
  • Something that meets requirements is satisfactory.
  • Giving presents can be satisfying, not satisfactory.
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3 Answers
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We can talk about a satisfying experience, a satisfying meal, something that leaves us physically or emotionally satisfied.
Satisfactory is more a judgement about something. A teacher may consider a pupil's performance satisfactory, meaning not excellent but good enough. Something that meets requirements is satisfactory.
Giving presents can be satisfying, not satisfactory.

By he
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satisfactory: (being) OK
satisfying: giving/creating satisfaction
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