inadequate

[ in-ad-i-kwit ]

adjective

1. not good enough for the purpose; inept or unsuitable:

   This old tent they gave us is completely inadequate—it’s equally bad at keeping out both the rain and the bugs!

   Synonyms: imperfect, defective, incommensurate, incompetent, inapt, incomplete

   Antonyms: sufficient

2. not sufficient for the purpose; not enough:

   The set of linens we received was so inadequate, we were asking friends for a loan of napkins and tablecloths.

3. Psychiatry. ineffectual in response to emotional, social, intellectual, and physical demands in the absence of any obvious mental or physical deficiency.

inadequate

/ ɪnˈædɪkwɪt /

adjective

1. not adequate; insufficient
2. not capable or competent; lacking

Derived Forms

• inˈadequately, adverb
• inˈadequacy, noun

Other Words From

• in·ad·e·quate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inadequate¹

First recorded in 1665–75; in- ³ + adequate

Example Sentences

She argued one was not secure enough to prevent her mother from wandering off, while the other was rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission.

From BBC

An accurate comparison with previous years is not possible because publicly available data is inadequate, according to an education expert.

From BBC

After getting few answers about what occurred then, Bennett sued, but said the details he was later provided were still inadequate.

From Los Angeles Times

“There is a perfect storm of young inexperienced staff with poor vetting and inadequate training being thrown into a dystopian environment," Mr Podmore says, "where violence and organised crime dominate a failing prison system.”

From BBC

After receiving countless customer complaints on social media regarding its inadequate portion sizes, Chipotle has confirmed that it has since been serving “consistent and generous portions” and prioritizing consumer needs.

From Salon

Related Words

• deficient
• faulty
• incompetent
• incomplete
• lacking
• meager
• poor
• sad
• scarce
• sketchy
• skimpy
• unequal
• weak