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competent

competent

34 4.2
Good enough for a task but not excellent
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɒmpɪtənt/
translation icon : competente
  • They were just an amazingly competent, hardworking, really good bunch of people.
  • a competent performance
  • in a competent manner
  • competent teachers

It's done by a lot of competent but uncomprehending processes.

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Examples

  • As Sir Wilfred has said, they are a reputable and competent firm.

  • And we have many, many competent service workers who are focusing on those tasks.

  • Everything about these guys, save the speed camera, has been competent so far.

  • It's now October, the system is neither competent nor improving.

  • Yes, sir, but a competent executive would find a way to deal with the corporate image problem.

  • The Los Angeles Times noted the strong acting performances and a competent script.

    Academic text (2017)
  • This is a competent workout that works out your shoulders and your back.

  • Students holding a grade orientation are concerned with appearing competent and doing better than others.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The tradeoff, however, is that students are much more likely to become competent in the material that is covered.

    Academic text (1997)
  • A competent cook can prepare a meal that meets everyone's tastes.

Synonyms

appropriate
vscompetent
962 3.5

Right for a particular situation, person, or purpose

is mainly about doing enough for the intended purpose rather than propriety
decent
vscompetent
487 2.3

Good enough in quality to meet normal needs

is more about being enough for a particular purpose rather than general quality
adequate
vscompetent
234 2.7

Enough in amount or quality to meet a need

is about meeting a particular purpose rather than amount
suitable
vscompetent
172 1.8

Right for a certain purpose, person, or situation

is about being merely sufficient for use rather than being the ideal match
satisfactory
vscompetent
81 2.3

Good enough to meet a need but not very good

is focused on being enough for a specific purpose rather than general approval

Antonyms

141 4.9

Not able to do a job or task well

49 5.0

Not good at something and often clumsy

How Competent

expert
3 3.5
proficient
32 6.0
competent
34 4.2
capable
945 1.4
able
1.0

Surface Forms

competent positive
competenter comparative
competentest superlative

Morphology

competent = competence (semi-transparent) = compet + ent

The adjective relates to 'competence', but the pragmatic sense 'adequate but not outstanding' is a usage nuance not fully predictable from the base alone.

Etymology

Competent comes from the Latin competere, from com- 'together' and petere 'to reach', so it originally meant 'to meet' or be the right fit. That's why a competent performance 'meets' the required standard — it is good enough even if not outstanding.