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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aguilar-Hurtado’s family lawsuit also included nine other examples of jail detainees who have accused the jail of providing inadequate medical care. Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 As the threat of bird flu mounts—the virus is tearing through farms and mutating in ways that increasingly threaten human health—the country’s response has been woefully inadequate. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025 Soon, even this inadequate housing began disappearing due ,in part, to real estate development/gentrification and the former hospital patients became homeless. Robert M. Hayes, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2025 However, if the situation and circumstances change, or if the decision is found to be inadequate, the leader must recognize it, admit it and pivot quickly. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inadequate

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inadequate was in 1671

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inadequate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

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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