Acceptable — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl/ ac·cept·able

Meaning & Definition of Acceptable

Acceptable (adjective)

  1. capable or worthy of being accepted
  2. welcome, pleasing
  3. barely satisfactory or adequate

Acceptable (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards

    "told the bike rental man that a ten-speed with four broken gears was not acceptable"

    similar: adequate, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, OK, passable, respectable, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, up to snuff
    related: agreeable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, minimal, common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-rate, so-so, standard, unexceptional, appropriate, correct, due, fitting, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable, useful, worthy, gratifying, satisfying
    opposite: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting
    near: disagreeable, disreputable, improper, indecent, objectionable, unfit, unsuitable, unworthy, useless, wrong, bad, cheap, defective, faulty, imperfect, incomplete, lamentable, pitiful, shoddy, dissatisfying, insufficient, meager, mean, miserly, poor, scanty, shabby, short, skimpy, spare, stingy, insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable, atrocious, execrable, miserable, vile, wretched, exceptional, exquisite, extreme, fancy, first-class, high-grade, matchless, maximized, maximum, optimal, optimum, peerless, preeminent, premium, special, supreme, unmatched, unparalleled, A1, bang-up, banner, boss (slang), capital, classic, crackerjack, dandy, divine, fabulous, first-rate, grand, great, groovy, heavenly, jim-dandy, keen, marvelous, neat, nifty, noble, par excellence, prime, sensational, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, unsurpassed, wonderful

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Acceptable

The most common words with a similar meaning to Acceptable:

adequate, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, OK, passable, respectable, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, up to snuff

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Acceptable

Words with the opposite meaning of Acceptable:

deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, wanting

Related Words for Acceptable

agreeable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, average, fair, indifferent, mediocre, middling, minimal, common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, run-of-the-mine, second-rate, so-so, standard, unexceptional, appropriate, correct, due, fitting, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable, useful, worthy, gratifying

Near Antonyms of Acceptable

disagreeable, disreputable, improper, indecent, objectionable, unfit, unsuitable, unworthy, useless, wrong, bad, cheap, defective, faulty, imperfect, incomplete, lamentable, pitiful, shoddy, dissatisfying, meager, mean, miserly, poor, scanty, shabby, short, skimpy, spare, stingy

Word Forms of Acceptable

Derived words: acceptability (noun), acceptableness (noun), acceptably (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Acceptable

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin acceptābilis, from Latin acceptāre "to accept" + -bilis "capable of (being acted upon)" -able

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Acceptable

Frequently Asked Questions about Acceptable

What does "Acceptable" mean?

"Acceptable" means capable or worthy of being accepted. As an adjective, it is defined as: capable or worthy of being accepted.

What is another word for "Acceptable"?

Other words for "Acceptable" include adequate, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, OK and passable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Acceptable" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Acceptable"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Acceptable". Common alternatives include adequate, all right, decent, fairish, fine, good, OK, passable, respectable and satisfactory.

What is the opposite of "Acceptable"?

Antonyms of "Acceptable" include deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, unacceptable, unsatisfactory and wanting. Near antonyms include disagreeable, disreputable, improper and indecent.

How do you use "Acceptable" in a sentence?

Examples of "Acceptable" in a sentence: "told the bike rental man that a ten-speed with four broken gears was not acceptable".

Is "Acceptable" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Acceptable" is an adjective.

Is "Acceptable" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Acceptable" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Acceptable"?

"Acceptable" is pronounced /ik-ˈsep-tə-bəl/ and divided into syllables as ac·cept·able.