inadequacy

noun

in·​ad·​e·​qua·​cy (ˌ)i-ˈna-di-kwə-sē 

plural inadequacies

1

: the quality or state of being inadequate

2

: insufficiency, deficiency

Synonyms

• crunch
• dearth
• deficiency
• deficit
• drought
• drouth
• failure
• famine
• inadequateness
• insufficiency
• lack
• lacuna
• paucity
• pinch
• poverty
• scantiness
• scarceness
• scarcity
• shortage
• undersupply
• want

Examples of inadequacy in a Sentence

the inadequacy of our servings was soon apparent, as hungry guests started clamoring for seconds

tried to blame others in order to hide the inadequacy of his leadership

Recent Examples on the Web

Tesla’s strategy implosion, first reported by The Information, comes at an awkward time for the electric vehicle industry, which is trying to convince more people to drive on battery even as customer nerves about the inadequacies of the US public charging network persist. —Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 2 May 2024

But the anxiety and the feeling of inadequacy were gone. —Clarissa Wei, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

inadequacy

noun

in·​ad·​e·​qua·​cy (ˈ)in-ˈad-i-kwə-sē 

plural inadequacies

1

: the quality or state of being inadequate

2

a

: an inadequate amount

b

: a failure to meet expectations

feelings of inadequacy

aware of my own inadequacies

Medical Definition

inadequacy

noun

in·​ad·​e·​qua·​cy (ˈ)in-ˈad-i-kwə-sē 

plural inadequacies

: the quality or state of being inadequate