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

Mr Podmore describes this training as “totally inadequate”, and “the worst and shortest of any jurisdiction I have observed over five continents”.

From BBC

“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

"Irresponsible owners, unsuitable financial models and inadequate regulation have cast a shadow over too many of our clubs and too often it is fans who have had to fight to protect their club's identity, heritage and even its very existence," she said.

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

A recent Human Rights Watch report found that inadequate medical care contributed to half of the deaths that occurred in their facilities; another from the U.S.

From Salon

Related Words

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