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
Etymology
Origin of inadequate
Explanation
Something inadequate doesn't cut it. If you lack just a few centimeters to reach the low mark on the wooden sign, your height is inadequate for riding the big roller coaster. Wear heels next time. The Latin root of adequate means "equal to," so inadequate refers to things that aren't equal to what is expected or needed. Something can be naturally inadequate, as in "inadequate rainfall to stop the fire," or it can result from lack of effort, as when someone avoids a question: "Your response was totally inadequate. Tell me what really happened."
Vocabulary lists containing inadequate
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Paltry Parlance: Synonyms for "Few"
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"When Do Kids Become Adults?" Vocabulary from the argument
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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.
His medical team is accused of providing grossly inadequate care in the lead-up to his death.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
“I find it heartbreaking that her self-esteem was allowed to sink so low. It is the postscript, for me, of her being failed by such an inadequate and amateur education.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
The study cited "unique stressors, such as poor habitability, noise and demanding schedules that leave inadequate time for sleep and rest".
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
In any other discipline—from civil engineering to pharmaceuticals—courts and regulators treat a system failure as evidence of bad product design and inadequate safety testing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
I felt stupid and inadequate and I hugged him.
From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz
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.
