inadequate

adjective

in·​ad·​e·​quate (ˌ)i-ˈna-di-kwət How to pronounce inadequate (audio)
: not adequate : not enough or good enough : insufficient
inadequate equipment
also : not capable
was inadequate as a leader
inadequately adverb
inadequateness noun

Examples of inadequate in a Sentence

These supplies are inadequate to meet our needs. We were given very inadequate information. I felt inadequate to the task. Her brother's success and popularity always made her feel inadequate.
Recent Examples on the Web The council approved the resolution 4-1, with Councilmember Dan Quirk opposed, after removing all of the guiding principles except No. 1, stating that moving the train tracks off the bluff is a top priority. Quirk, who opposes the tunnel, said the guiding principles are inadequate. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The data center in the 1966 building that houses that work receives inadequate cooling, and employees there spend about 30 percent of their time trying to mitigate problems with the lab, according to the academies’ reports. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 The hospital industry was critical of the response, describing the measures as inadequate. Julie Creswell, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 America’s life expectancy is falling annually–and improper or inadequate nutrition is a major cause. Julie Chapon, Fortune Europe, 5 Mar. 2024 Sometimes, a claim is both false and based on an inadequate set of data. Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 If the biopsies show significant disease and the function of the kidney would be inadequate for a recipient, the receiving center can request both kidneys for a single patient, termed a dual transplant (which has been shown to have good outcomes). Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024 His collaboration on a project with the Institute for the Future led to the realization that traditional modes of sense-making were inadequate in a world of incoherence, complexity and contradiction. Tracey Follows, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 By contrast, failures in EDT implementations often stem from inadequate planning and ineffective change management processes. Robert Kramer, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inadequate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inadequate was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near inadequate

Cite this Entry

“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inadequate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inadequate

adjective
in·​ad·​e·​quate (ˈ)in-ˈad-i-kwət How to pronounce inadequate (audio)
: not adequate : not enough or not good enough
an inadequate supply of food
inadequately adverb

Medical Definition

inadequate

1 of 2 adjective
in·​ad·​e·​quate -i-kwət How to pronounce inadequate (audio)
1
: not adequate : deficient
an inadequate dose
inadequate perfusion
inadequate diets
2
: lacking the capacity for psychological maturity or adequate social adjustment
an inadequate personality
inadequately adverb

inadequate

2 of 2 noun
: one who is inadequate especially in terms of social adjustment

More from Merriam-Webster on inadequate

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