What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Optimal vs Adequate - What's the difference?

optimal | adequate |

As adjectives the difference between optimal and adequate

is that optimal is the best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction while adequate is equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition lawfully and physically sufficient.

As a verb adequate is

to equalize; to make adequate.

optimal

English

Adjective

(-)
  • The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.
    • Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.
  • # (artificial intelligence) Describing a search algorithm that always returns the best result.

    • Synonyms

    * best, ideal

    Related terms

    * opt * option * optional * optionable * optimality * optimise, optimize * optimism * optimist * optimistic * optimum * suboptimal

    adequate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent; fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate definition lawfully and physically sufficient.
  • * De Quincey
    • Ireland had no adequate champion.
  • * Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Empty House
    • All day, as I drove upon my round, I turned over the case in my mind and found no explanation which appeared to me to be adequate .

    Antonyms

    * inadequate

    Verb

    (adequat)
  • (obsolete) To equalize; to make adequate.
    • (Fotherby)
  • (obsolete) To equal.
    • It [is] an impossibility for any creature to adequate God in his eternity. — Shelford.