as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
an inadequate amount of food on hand for so many unexpected guests
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Recent Examples of inadequate
Most pertinently, McCullum and Key failed by not giving England the best chance to succeed in Australia, with flawed planning, inadequate preparation and a surprising naivety over what would be needed on modern Australian pitches.
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Paul Newman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Baltimore’s consent decree similarly identified major deficiencies in training, including outdated curricula, inconsistent instruction, and inadequate field supervision.
—Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2026
Low costs may mean inexperienced surgeons, inadequate post-care, and poor graft numbers.
—Will Jones, Kansas City Star, 31 Dec. 2025
In addition to Murton's denunciations of conditions at Cummins and Tucker, his book explores the woefully inadequate women's prison, located on the same grounds as Cummins.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequate
Adjective
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Nothing undermines success like a lack of stability, and of course, a lacking quarterback.—
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These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.—
Adjective
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The decision followed a monthslong investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office that concluded there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.—
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Yet most national climate targets remain outdated and insufficient.—
Adjective
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The capacity for attention on books is so scarce, more so every year.—
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And the buildout is putting stress on local water resources that communities worry will cause shortages, with 160 new facilities located in areas with scarce supply, according to Bloomberg.—
Adjective
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The president argued that inflation was already low enough to start cutting rates.—
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There’s something motivating about having this low, electronic drumbeat pushing you along, trying to go faster and faster and faster.—
Cite this Entry
“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequate. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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