1
as in qualified
having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance
any competent mechanic should be able to fix that
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in justified
being what is called for by accepted standards of right and wrong
the arbiter has all the necessary information to make a competent decision on the matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of competent
She was ultimately deemed mentally competent to stand trial last year.
—
Julia Bonavita, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025
Likewise, Ukrainian battlefield commanders, although not without failures, have been more competent and considerate of the lives of soldiers than have Russia’s.
—Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
After starting off with a heavenly light touch, Conor earned a four-chair turn with a rendition of Dionne Warwick’s classic that was competent but ultimately uninspiring.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 17 Feb. 2025
Ti is a competent high-end graphics card dunked into a soon-to-be highly competitive market segment.
—PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competent
Julia Bonavita, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025
Likewise, Ukrainian battlefield commanders, although not without failures, have been more competent and considerate of the lives of soldiers than have Russia’s.
—Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
After starting off with a heavenly light touch, Conor earned a four-chair turn with a rendition of Dionne Warwick’s classic that was competent but ultimately uninspiring.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 17 Feb. 2025
Ti is a competent high-end graphics card dunked into a soon-to-be highly competitive market segment.
—PCMAG, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for competent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for competent
Adjective
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The Pew Research Center survey was based on 1,391 qualified U.S. teen respondents between the ages of 13-to-17.—
Brad Adgate,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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Identify a qualified individual, chosen through a peer-juried process, to chair the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Center. 10.—
Darin Stewart,
The Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Equally apparent, the justified fear the club has about his arm.—
Mac Engel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Reddit users were just as quick to praise the pedestrian's actions, seeing the moment as a justified comeback rather than reckless behavior.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This content is not, nor is intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any investment product or strategy is suitable for any person.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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This option is suitable for individuals who enjoy the feel of memory foam but are concerned about overheating.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
Fox News,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And while the attention for both is well deserved, there’s so much more to the country than those two spotlight-grabbing cities.—
Christina Liao,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2025
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Bournemouth and Fulham have left Tyneside with deserved victories and Howe has appeared reluctant to use his replacements early.—
Sam Lee,
The Athletic,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
None of this is easy to watch for audiences who love animals, even if these unicorns are dark and fairly menacing in their appearance — not to mention perfectly capable of defending themselves.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2025
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Chris is a brilliant forensic accountant capable of parsing weeks worth of complicated bookkeeping in a night, and spotting patterns others have missed.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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When splitting retirement plans, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a legal document that is used to facilitate the split.—
Heather L. Locus,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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But, every time the legal system failed one of her clients, her faith in it was rattled.—
Sarah Lustbader,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The chairman alleged Sherman colluded with some board members to wrest control by making changes to the board’s composition by appointing two new directors without proper vetting by the nominations committee.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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The on and off ramps at Exit 74 on I-95 lack the proper acceleration and deceleration lanes that merge on and off I-95.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Competent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/competent. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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