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Competent vs Exemplary - What's the difference?

competent | exemplary |

As adjectives the difference between competent and exemplary

is that competent is having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications while exemplary is deserving honour, respect and admiration.

As a noun exemplary is

an example, or typical instance; an exemplar.

competent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.
  • He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.
  • (legal) Having jurisdiction or authority over a particular issue or question.
  • For any disagreements arising from this contract, the competent court shall be the Springfield Circuit Court.
    judicial authority having competent jurisdiction
  • Adequate for the purpose
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 67:
  • "For if [birds] had been Viviparous , the burthen of their womb, if they had brought forth any competent number at a time, had been so big and heavy, that their wings would have failed them "

    Quotations

    * "I believe in that myself because it has been explained by competent men as the convolutions of the grey matter." - James Joyce, Ulysses , 1922 * "That as a competent keyless citizen he had proceeded energetically from the unknown to the known through the incertitude of the void." - James Joyce, Ulysses , 1922

    exemplary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Deserving honour, respect and admiration.
  • Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • [Bishops'] lives and doctrines ought to be exemplary .
  • Ideal or perfect.
  • Serving as a warning; monitory.
  • as, exemplary justice, punishment, or damages

    Noun

    (exemplaries)
  • (obsolete) An example, or typical instance; an exemplar
  • (obsolete) A copy of a book or writing.
  • (Donne)