inadequacy
noun
in·ad·e·qua·cy
(ˌ)i-ˈna-di-kwə-sē 
plural inadequacies
1
: the quality or state of being inadequate
the inadequacy of the response
2
: insufficiency, deficiency
I'm aware of my inadequacies as a parent.
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
Skepticism about Shakespeare having actually written the plays attributed to him has persisted for more than a century, originated by lack of documentation and inadequacies in the historical record and perpetuated by cultural fascination.
—
Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
The Lamont administration invited to the signing ceremony Hammersley and others who have been critical of Connecticut’s longstanding inadequacies in education funding, which have been the subject of litigation over decades, as well as the current governor’s fiscal moderation.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Enter RapidSOS RapidSOS was founded in 2012 by CEO Michael Martin, who built the company out of MIT after a personal brush with the inadequacy of 911 infrastructure.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
However, don’t go overboard because of feelings of inadequacy or a desire to overcompensate.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
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Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
The Lamont administration invited to the signing ceremony Hammersley and others who have been critical of Connecticut’s longstanding inadequacies in education funding, which have been the subject of litigation over decades, as well as the current governor’s fiscal moderation.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Enter RapidSOS RapidSOS was founded in 2012 by CEO Michael Martin, who built the company out of MIT after a personal brush with the inadequacy of 911 infrastructure.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
However, don’t go overboard because of feelings of inadequacy or a desire to overcompensate.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inadequacy. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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