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.

They’ve had to rely on YouTube’s restricted modes or third-party software for filtering content, which officials said has proven inadequate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Tommy's, the pregnancy charity, says NHS care offered to women who have suffered three miscarriages can be "inconsistent and inadequate".

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Computer labs were eliminated years ago for being out of date and educationally inadequate for a student’s daily and even hourly academic needs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Evolutionary theory is no longer heretical, Galileo has been issued a hall pass to heaven, and quite a few sincere if entirely inadequate apologies have been issued, mostly to people long dead.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

It was inadequate to Ugwu, their exchange; he felt as if Mama’s death required more words, more gestures, more shared time between them.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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