Acceptable vs That's not bad

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Acceptable

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adjective

That's not bad

Top 2,000 (common)

	Acceptable	That's not bad
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/	🇬🇧 //ðæts nɒt bæd// 🇺🇸 //ðæts nɑt bæd//
Meaning	Okay or good enough to be used.	It's okay or good, not as bad as it sounds.
Example	The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying.	The movie was actually quite good, not what I expected — that's not bad!
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	adjective
Collocations	be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…, be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…	that's not bad for a start, that's not bad at all, that's not a bad idea
Antonyms	unacceptable, unsatisfactory, poor	that's terrible, that's awful, that's disappointing
Common mistakes	Confused with 'acceptable' vs 'accepted'., Using 'acceptable' as a noun incorrectly., Overusing 'acceptable' in contexts that require stronger words like 'excellent' or 'outstanding'.	Used in overly serious contexts, make sure it's appropriate., Confuse with 'that's good' which is stronger approval.
Usage notes	Used in both spoken and written contexts to indicate something that meets necessary standards. It can be formal in academic contexts and more casual in everyday conversations. Avoid in circumstances that require high standards or exceptional quality.	Often used to express mild approval or surprise. It's informal but not overly casual, suitable in many contexts. Avoid in very formal settings.

See it in real clips

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

Now, Coach Lasso may not have the CV that you all find acceptable,

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

but thank you, Jesse. I'm glad it's acceptable.

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

Now, Coach Lasso may not have the CV that you all find acceptable,

Breaking Bad › S1 E1

but thank you, Jesse. I'm glad it's acceptable.

Acceptable

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

that isn't so bad.

Top Gear › S1 E1

That's not bad. I've always quite liked the Micra myself.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

that isn't so bad.

Top Gear › S1 E1

That's not bad. I've always quite liked the Micra myself.

That's not bad

Frequently asked questions: Acceptable vs That's not bad

What's the difference between Acceptable and That's not bad?

Acceptable: Okay or good enough to be used. That's not bad: It's okay or good, not as bad as it sounds.

Can you show an example of each?

Acceptable: The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying. That's not bad: The movie was actually quite good, not what I expected — that's not bad!

Can I use Acceptable and That's not bad interchangeably?

Not always. Acceptable and That's not bad are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.