inadequacies

NOUN

shortage, defect, inability

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dearth deficiency failing flaw imperfection incapacity ineffectiveness inefficiency ineptitude insufficiency paucity shortcoming weakness

STRONG

blemish defalcation defectiveness deficit drawback faultiness inadequateness inaptness incompetence incompetency incompleteness ineffectualness inefficacy lack meagerness poverty scantiness unfitness unsuitableness

WEAK

skimpiness underage

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abundance advantage perfection plenty strength strong point sufficiency

STRONG

enough excess extra

WEAK

ability adequacy

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.

“Marilyn’s reading formed a concerted effort to overcome any inadequacies she perceived in herself,” Crowther writes.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026

States that agreed to it would provide voter lists to the Justice Department, which would then look for any “insufficiencies, inadequacies, deficiencies, anomalies, or concerns.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Robinson told the hearing he had been concerned one of the suspects in the case may have been wrongfully detained due to "inadequacies in the case" during the arrest.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

But in practice, it has often led to long environmental reports, studies and reviews, that are sometimes followed by lawsuits over possible inadequacies that can require a restart.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

Recognizing the inadequacies of postmodern history of science does not mean that we should simply go back to Kuhn or to Koyré.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton