satisfactory vs satisfying

Question

HiI would like to look the difference between "satisfactory" and "satisfying". How should they be used?thanks!!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Typical uses:

Mabel studied hard, did all her homework, and passed all the tests. Her performance this year has been satisfactory. She satisfied the requirements of the course.

When the weather is very hot, and you get thirsty, a cool drink can be satisfying. It satisfies your need for something to drink. It satisfies your desire to cool off.

CJ

Marius Hancu · Answer

"satisfactory" something OK
"satisfying" something pleasing

Goodman · Answer

Joey_fiveHi

I would like to look the difference between "satisfactory" and "satisfying". How should they be used?

thanks!!

A satisfying ( rewarding/ fulfilling) meal, relationship, experience etc…

A satisfactory answer, performance, result, report etc…

Joey_five · Answer

Thank you all ....

CalifJimTypical uses:

Mabel studied hard, did all her homework, and passed all the tests. Her performance this year has been satisfactory. She satisfied the requirements of the course.

When the weather is very hot, and you get thirsty, a cool drink can be satisfying. It satisfies your need for something to drink. It satisfies your desire to cool off.

CJ

But it seems the two words are exchangeable in some cases?? for example:

a) Her performance this year has been satisfying.

but not:

b) When the weather is very hot, and you get thirsty, a cool drink can be satisfactory.

Am I correct??

BarbaraPA · Answer

Joey, your a) example doesn't sound natural at all. You would say "satisfactory." (Which is not a very high rating, by the way.) Likewise, your b) doesn't sound natural either.

Think of "satisfactory" as a replacement for "acceptable."

Goodman · Answer

Joey_fiveThank you all ....
CalifJimTypical uses:

Mabel studied hard, did all her homework, and passed all the tests. Her performance this year has been satisfactory. She satisfied the requirements of the course.

When the weather is very hot, and you get thirsty, a cool drink can be satisfying. It satisfies your need for something to drink. It satisfies your desire to cool off.

CJ
But it seems the two words are exchangeable in some cases?? for example:

a) Her performance this year has been satisfying.but not:

b) When the weather is very hot, and you get thirsty, a cool drink can be satisfactory.

Am I correct??

No, they are not interchangeable. "Satisfying" has a sense of positive personal feeling in the meaning. "Satisfactory" is used to describe a feeling of fulfillment. i.e. The football team has shown satisfactory progress during last practice. Satisfying doesn't sound right..

Nona the brit · Answer

I can think of examples where a tutor might say 'satisfying' in regards to a student's progress, but it is not then a comment on the student's abilities or progress directly, just the teacher's personal satisfaction at having helped them.

For example.

Little Jonny joins a school and is three years behind his classmates. After a year's hard work he has caught up a lot and is now only one year behind his classmates. The teacher couldn't describe his current performance as satisfactory (he is still not performing as well as he should) but might be very pleased with the overall amount of progress and find working with troubled students (and therefore Jonny's progress) personally very satisfying.

But don't confuse the fact that these two words have different meanings. Just because ocassionally either meaning may be 'workable', does not mean that the words are interchangeable or ever reflect the same meaning.

satisfactory vs satisfying

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