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inadequate

[ in-ad-i-kwit ]
/ ɪnˈæd ɪ kwɪt /
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See synonyms for: inadequate / inadequately on Thesaurus.com

adjective
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.
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Origin of inadequate

First recorded in 1665–75; in-3 + adequate

OTHER WORDS FROM inadequate

in·ad·e·quate·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inadequate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inadequate

inadequate
/ (ɪnˈædɪkwɪt) /

adjective
not adequate; insufficient
not capable or competent; lacking

Derived forms of inadequate

inadequacy, nouninadequately, 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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