What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sufficing
Example
This amount of money should be sufficing for our needs. [sufficing: present participle]
Example
I hope this explanation is sufficing to answer your question. [sufficing: gerund]
satisfactory
Example
The quality of the product was satisfactory for its price. [satisfactory: adjective]
Example
I hope this explanation is satisfactory to answer your question. [satisfactory: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Satisfactory is more commonly used than sufficing in everyday language. Satisfactory is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sufficing is less common and can have a neutral or negative connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sufficing and satisfactory?
Both sufficing and satisfactory can be used in formal and informal contexts, but satisfactory is generally considered more formal due to its positive connotation and use as an adjective.
