ill-prepared
Americanadjective
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.
Both Raman and Pratt said the city was ill-prepared to contain the blazes that destroyed thousands of homes, including Pratt’s.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Burrows said "every parent would want to know if their child is struggling, but these flimsy notifications will leave parents panicked and ill-prepared to have the sensitive and difficult conversations that will follow".
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
Europe has wide "shortfalls" in its military capabilities which leave it "ill-prepared" as the war in Ukraine grinds on, a new report said Tuesday.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
In their study — titled “How Much Are Emergency Expenses for Retirees and Are They Prepared?” — researchers Manita Rao and Anqi Chen reached a sobering conclusion: Many retirees are ill-prepared to handle unexpected expenses.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 23, 2026
A very pathetic, ill-prepared army, Thomas thought, but an army all the same.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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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.