Sufficient vs Necessary - What's the difference?
sufficient | necessary |
Equal to the end proposed; adequate to wants; enough; ample; competent; as,
Possessing adequate talents or accomplishments; of competent power or ability; qualified; fit.
(archaic) Capable of meeting obligations; responsible.
* 1668 , (Samuel Pepys), December 23 1668
self-sufficient; self-satisfied; content.
The smallest amount needed.
needed, required
* Shakespeare
* Tillotson
Such as must be; not to be avoided; inevitable.
* Shakespeare
Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary.
(archaic, British) bathroom, toilet, loo
As adjectives the difference between sufficient and necessary
is that sufficient is equal to the end proposed; adequate to wants; enough; ample; competent; as while necessary is needed, required.As a determiner sufficient
is the smallest amount needed.As a noun necessary is
bathroom, toilet, loo.sufficient
English
(Webster 1913)Adjective
(en adjective)- We have provision sufficient for the family
- This army is sufficient to defend the country.
- There is not sufficient access to the internet in the some small country villages.
- A two-week training course is sufficient to get a job in the coach-driving profession.
- ...to take the best ways we can, to make it known to the Duke of York; for, till Sir J. Minnes be removed, and a sufficient man brought into W. Pen's place, when he is gone, it is impossible for this Office ever to support itself.
Derived terms
* self-sufficient * sufficiency * sufficientlySee also
* adequate * ample * enough * plentyDeterminer
(en determiner)- Sufficient of us are against this idea that we should stop now.
Statistics
*External links
* * * ----necessary
English
(wikipedia necessary)Adjective
(en adjective)- 'Tis necessary he should die.
- A certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of our minds.
- Death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come.
- Whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question much discussed.