inadequate
Americanadjective
-
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
-
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.
-
Psychiatry. ineffectual in response to emotional, social, intellectual, and physical demands in the absence of any obvious mental or physical deficiency.
adjective
-
not adequate; insufficient
-
not capable or competent; lacking
Other Word Forms
- inadequacy noun
- inadequately adverb
Etymology
Origin of inadequate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People use social media to keep up with their friends and family, but teens can also feel inadequate, sad or anxious when they compare themselves to a curated version of other people’s lives online.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
Taxpayers face potential penalties and refund delays this season due to inadequate protections and a 27% IRS staffing reduction.
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
The NASUWT, the Teachers' Union, says it has had concerns for some time that advice given to schools about lockdown procedures is inadequate.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Over 40% of businesses’ AI agent projects will be canceled by the end of 2027 because of escalating costs, unclear business value or inadequate risk controls, according to market research and IT consulting firm Gartner.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
“Well, sorry to let you down,” said Harry, his voice quite calm even though he felt hollow, inadequate.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
