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.

Synonyms of inadequacy

• shortage
• lack
• deficiency

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

The West Indies made 125-7 and the inadequacy of that total was exposed by Australia hunting it down with seven overs to spare. — ABC News, 30 June 2026

Connecting the Orioles’ fielding inadequacies in the majors directly to their lack of attention to defense in the minors would be a stretch; Rutschman, Henderson and Cowser all came up through their system. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 18 June 2026

This majestic sequence delivers a lifetime’s outpouring of love’s inadequacies and frustrations, of grief and regret, of gratitude along with candid acceptance of loss, and of self-questioning that never shakes the foundations of the family—her ferocious commitment to the children. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 June 2026

That number says less about the size of the problem than about the inadequacy of the old answers. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inadequacy

• adequacy

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