passably adequate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passably adequate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is acceptable or satisfactory, but not exceptional. Example: "The service at the restaurant was passably adequate, but I expected more given the high ratings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Anything passably earthy goes.

The New Yorker

He plays piano well, and guitar passably.

The New Yorker

Lee, passably assured, scribbled his phone number for Subban.

The New Yorker

She gets through the first passably.

The New York Times

Only JPMorgan Chase did passably well (see chart).

The Economist

The exercise is passably droll but awfully strenuous.

The New Yorker

Still, the system worked passably well for years.

The New York Times

He pitched passably in his first four starts.

The New York Times - Sports

In this way the sheer difficulty involved in dancing (passably, let alone well) was reinforced.

The New York Times - Arts

Given the regulatory environment, any passably credible allegation of accounting fraud brings everything to a halt.

The New York Times

However, the competition did contain one head-scratcher and one passably ludicrous clunker.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passably adequate" to describe situations where expectations are not fully met, but the outcome is still acceptable. It's most effective when a stronger descriptor would be inaccurate.

Common error

Avoid using "passably adequate" when describing truly excellent or superior outcomes. This phrase is best reserved for scenarios where the result is just 'good enough'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passably adequate" functions as a descriptive phrase, specifically modifying a noun by indicating the degree to which it meets a certain standard. It suggests that something is acceptable or satisfactory to a minimal extent. Based on Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used to describe something that is acceptable or satisfactory, but not exceptional.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passably adequate" is a descriptive phrase used to indicate that something is acceptable or satisfactory to a minimal extent. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, its neutral register makes it suitable for various communication contexts. Given the limited number of examples found, its usage frequency is considered rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sufficient enough

Emphasizes the sufficiency aspect, suggesting it meets the minimum requirement.

Barely satisfactory

Highlights the marginal acceptability of the quality or condition.

Tolerably acceptable

Indicates that something is acceptable only to a certain degree.

Reasonably good

Suggests a moderate level of quality without being outstanding.

Kind of acceptable

Informal phrasing indicating a hesitant or qualified acceptance.

Just about adequate

Stresses the narrow margin by which something meets the requirement.

Decently satisfactory

Implies a level of satisfaction that is above mere adequacy but not exceptional.

Moderately sufficient

Highlights that something is sufficient to a limited extent.

Somewhat acceptable

Indicates that something is accepted with certain reservations or limitations.

Fairly sufficient

Suggests a level of sufficiency that is considered average or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "passably adequate" in a sentence?

You can use "passably adequate" to describe something that meets the minimum requirements but is not outstanding. For instance, "The student's essay was passably adequate, but it lacked originality".

What's a more formal alternative to "passably adequate"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "moderately sufficient" or "fairly sufficient". These options provide a similar meaning while maintaining a professional register.

Is "passably adequate" the same as "adequate"?

While both terms indicate that something meets the required standard, "passably adequate" suggests a lower degree of sufficiency. It implies that something is just barely adequate, whereas "adequate" alone suggests a more comfortable level of meeting requirements.

When is it appropriate to use "passably adequate" over synonyms like "sufficient"?

"Passably adequate" is best used when you want to convey that something only meets the minimum requirements or expectations. If something exceeds expectations, using "sufficient" or "more than sufficient" would be more appropriate.