inadequate

in·ad·e·quate

adjective \-kwət\

Definition of INADEQUATE

: not adequate : insufficient <inadequate equipment>; also : not capable <was inadequate as a leader>

— in·ad·e·quate·ly adverb

— in·ad·e·quate·ness noun

Examples of INADEQUATE

1. These supplies are inadequate to meet our needs.
2. We were given very inadequate information.
3. I felt inadequate to the task.
4. Her brother's success and popularity always made her feel inadequate.

First Known Use of INADEQUATE

1671

Related to INADEQUATE

Synonyms

deficient, short, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, shy, wanting

Antonyms

adequate, enough, sufficient

Related Words

substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory; hand-to-mouth, lean, light, meager (or meagre), niggardly, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy; bare, mere, minimum; slight, small

Near Antonyms

abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plentitudinous; enlarged, expanded, supplemented; abounding, overflowing, teeming; satisfactory, tolerable; lavish, luxuriant, rich; big, considerable, hefty, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), large, largish, oversize (or oversized), sizable (or sizeable), substantial, super