satisfactory
Meets the standard
Satisfactory describes something that meets requirements or expectations without necessarily exceeding them.
A satisfactory grade passes but doesn't shine; a satisfactory meal fills you up without being memorable.
The word carries a slightly lukewarm connotation—adequate rather than impressive.
The inspector found the building's safety measures satisfactory.
When someone calls your work satisfactory, you've cleared the bar, but just barely.
Minimally sufficient quality
- tolerableAble to be endured
- decentAcceptably good
- fairImpartial and unbiased
- respectableWorthy of regard
reasonable · okay · fine · adequate · suitable · appropriate · fitting · palatable
Meeting minimum requirements
- enoughMeeting the requirement
- ampleFully sufficient, even excessive
- competentSufficiently able, qualified
- functionalAble to operate correctly
serviceable · workable · usable · baseline · minimum · requisite · capable · effective
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- middlingOf moderate quality
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- so-soIndifferently average quality
undistinguished · commonplace · unexceptional · lackluster · uninspired · nothing-special · forgettable · run-of-the-mill
Standard for comparison
- criteriaStandards for judgment
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- baselineStandard for comparison
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
specification · guideline · measure · requirement · bar · expectation · norm · metric
Providing deep satisfaction
- gratifyingGiving pleasure or satisfaction
- pleasingCausing enjoyment or satisfaction
- rewardingProviding satisfaction or benefit
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
reassuring · heartening · encouraging · gladdening · cheering · relieving · welcome · agreeable
passable
Minimally sufficient quality
respectable · reasonable · okay · fine · adequate · suitable · appropriate · fitting · palatable · permissible
sufficient
Meeting minimum requirements
- enoughMeeting the requirement
- ampleFully sufficient, even excessive
- competentSufficiently able, qualified
functional · serviceable · workable · usable · baseline · minimum · requisite · capable · effective
average
Arithmetic mean or ordinary
- middlingOf moderate quality
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
so-so · undistinguished · commonplace · unexceptional · lackluster · uninspired · nothing-special · forgettable · run-of-the-mill · vanilla
benchmark
Standard for comparison
yardstick · specification · guideline · measure · requirement · bar · expectation · norm · metric · target
fulfilling
Providing deep satisfaction
- gratifyingGiving pleasure or satisfaction
- pleasingCausing enjoyment or satisfaction
- rewardingProviding satisfaction or benefit
comforting · reassuring · heartening · encouraging · gladdening · cheering · relieving · welcome · agreeable · enjoyable
approved
Officially accepted or permitted
- endorsedOfficially approved or supported
- acceptedFormally agreed to
- ratifiedFormally approved, made official
sanctioned · certified · validated · authorized · confirmed · agreed · cleared · passed · greenlit · thumbs-up
- adequacyadequate, enough, sufficient, acceptable, passable
- Danger Levelsdanger, high risk, high-risk, low risk, critical
- Evaluationsevaluation, assessment, appraisal, review, rating
- gradesA, A+, B, C, D
- Ways to Say "Fineokay, fine, good, all right, cool
- Academic Statusgood standing, probation, academic probation, dean's list, honors
satisfactoryunsatisfactory
Not good enough
inadequate · unacceptable · insufficient · deficient · wanting
- satisfactory progressAcceptable forward movement