inadequate
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!
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.
Origin of inadequate
1Other words for inadequate
Opposites for inadequate
Other words from inadequate
- in·ad·e·quate·ly, adverb
Words Nearby inadequate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use inadequate in a sentence
She characterized the GOP plan as inadequate on multiple fronts.
House to vote on removing GOP’s Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committees | Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner, Colby Itkowitz | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostEllington needs help raising inadequate salary levels and relieving the pressure of its big fundraising needs.
Why did education leaders trash a school full of music, dance and art? | Jay Mathews | January 30, 2021 | Washington PostSetting up such systems is a money- and labor-intensive process, no easy thing for public health departments facing inadequate funding and staffing while simultaneously fighting a once-in-a-generation pandemic.
Many States Don't Know Who's Getting COVID-19 Vaccines. That's a Huge Problem for Equity | Chris Wilson | January 28, 2021 | TimeThe US vaccination effort has been disastrously delayed by limited supplies, an inadequate federal distribution plan, and the growing threat that more-transmissible variants of Covid-19 are spreading.
A big hurdle for older Americans trying to get vaccinated: Using the internet | Rebecca Heilweil | January 27, 2021 | VoxCity officials argue that day-care workers are still a high-priority group, but with an inadequate supply of vaccines, they are forced to make tough decisions.
D.C.’s day-care employees criticize the city’s vaccine plan for prioritizing school staff over them | Perry Stein | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post
Obsessive exercising and inadequate nutrition can, over time, put people at high risk for overuse injuries like stress fractures.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe city has taken inadequate steps or no steps at all to control the violent acts of its law-enforcement personnel.
There was also the question of inadequate protective gear and insufficient instruction.
The totally inadequate international response must shoulder blame as well.
In Sierra Leone, the Plague Is Closing in Around Us | Ned Eustace | October 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“There was a sense the response had been inadequate and slow,” Reed says.
Westgate's Chilling Security Video Reveals Shopping Mall Bloodbath | Nina Strochlic | September 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEvery human being behind that absurdly inadequate wall was exposed to constant and equal danger.
The Red Year | Louis TracyHilda's assumption that the ageing woman had telegraphed for her on inadequate grounds had proved to be quite wrong.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettIt goes no further than the denunciation of the peer, and the raising of a subscription (generally inadequate) for the sufferers.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThat Determinist conclusion would be followed by the usual inadequate subscription.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordOne would be unwilling to press a certain lack of enthusiasm for their King, or a suspicion of inadequate generalship.
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
British Dictionary definitions for inadequate
/ (ɪnˈædɪkwɪt) /
not adequate; insufficient
not capable or competent; lacking
Derived forms of inadequate
- inadequacy, noun
- inadequately, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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