Adequate vs. Appropriate

Adequate vs. Appropriate — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Adequate and Appropriate

Adequateadjective

Equal to or fulfilling some requirement.

powers adequate to a great workan adequate definition

Appropriateadjective

Suitable or fit; proper.

The headmaster wondered what an appropriate measure would be to make the pupil behave better.

Adequateverb

(obsolete) To equalize; to make adequate.

Appropriateadjective

Suitable to the social situation or to social respect or social discreetness; socially correct; socially discreet; well-mannered; proper.

I don't think it was appropriate for the cashier to tell me out loud in front of all those people at the check-out that my hair-piece looked like it was falling out of place.While it is not considered appropriate for a professor to date his student, there is no such concern once the semester has ended.

Adequateverb

(obsolete) To equal.

Appropriateadjective

(obsolete) Set apart for a particular use or person; reserved.

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Adequateadjective

(sometimes followed by `to') meeting the requirements especially of a task;

she had adequate trainingher training was adequateshe was adequate to the job

Appropriateverb

To make suitable; to suit.

Adequateadjective

enough to meet a purpose;

an adequate incomethe food was adequatea decent wageenough foodfood enough

Appropriateverb

(transitive) To take to oneself; to claim or use, especially as by an exclusive right.

Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.

Adequateadjective

about average; acceptable;

more than adequate as a secretary

Appropriateverb

(transitive) To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, especially in exclusion of all others; with to or for.

A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden.to appropriate money for the increase of the navy
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Appropriateverb

To annex (for example a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property).

Appropriateverb

give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause;

I will earmark this money for your research

Appropriateverb

take possession of by force, as after an invasion;

the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitantsThe army seized the townThe militia captured the castle

Appropriateadjective

suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc;

a book not appropriate for childrena funeral conducted the appropriate solemnityit seems that an apology is appropriate

Appropriateadjective

appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness

Appropriateadjective

meant or adapted for an occasion or use;

a tractor suitable (or fit) for heavy dutynot an appropriate (or fit) time for flippancy

Appropriateadjective

suitable and fitting;

the tailored clothes were harmonious with her military bearing

Appropriateadjective

being of striking appropriateness and pertinence;

the successful copywriter is a master of apposite and evocative verbal imagesan apt reply