inadequate

[in-ad-i-kwit] / ɪnˈæd ɪ kwɪt /

ADJECTIVE

defective, insufficient, incompetent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deficient faulty incompetent incomplete lacking meager poor sad scarce sketchy skimpy unequal weak

WEAK

bare barren bush-league depleted dry failing feeble found wanting glitch imperfect impotent inappreciable inapt incapable incommensurate inconsiderable insubstantial junk lame lemon lousy low minus miserly not enough parsimonious scanty short shy small spare sparse sterile stinted stunted thin too little unproductive unqualified

Antonyms

STRONGEST

able abundant adequate capable complete enough full perfect potent strong sufficient

WEAK

competent

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.

Under fire for what critics say is inadequate protection of its young user base, Roblox nevertheless remains incredibly popular.

From Slate • May 17, 2026

The result is a patchwork of wildly unequal and inadequate representation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Seeing all the men with perfect bodies on Instagram made Nathaniel Robinson feel inadequate.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

It seems to us that he can’t handle the responsibilities of being a father and feels inadequate in the role, possibly due to his lifelong financial dependence on his mother.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

In a patient who gets only one antibiotic or inadequate doses of several, or who doesn’t take his medicine as instructed, the drug-susceptible bacilli may die off but the drug-resistant mutants will flourish.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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