0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

Satisfactory vs. adequate

Hi,

I've just filled out an online job application form that listed language skills and you should choose how good you were in that language from a drop down menu (like poor, good, very good, etc). Among the choices were also "satisfactory" and "adequate", but all the adjectives were in alphabetical order, so now I'm confused: which one is better? I always thought that the two were synonymous.

Thanks in advance,
Angela
  

Top answer

Hi, satisfactory is a more positive word. adequate is less positive. Just 'maybe not good, but enough for what is needed'.

— Clive

  • Hi, satisfactory is a more positive word.
  • adequate is less positive.
  • Just 'maybe not good, but enough for what is needed'.
  • Clive
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
Hi,

satisfactory is a more positive word.

adequate is less positive. Just 'maybe not good, but enough for what is needed'.

Clive
0

Related Questions