1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the inadequacy of our servings was soon apparent, as hungry guests started clamoring for seconds
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
tried to blame others in order to hide the inadequacy of his leadership
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequacy
The aid effort has laid bare the inadequacy of the defense industrial base to replenish those weapons stocks.
—
Katherine Doyle, NBC news, 4 July 2025
Debates surrounding its future intensified in the 2000s, as DFW’s ballooning population laid bare the long-term inadequacies of its water reserves.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Indeed, stories of their stunning inadequacies, from news outlets, NGOs, and foreign funders, helped to contextualize the Ebola outbreak, as well as the need for such a dramatic international response.
—Mara Kardas-Nelson, The Dial, 8 Apr. 2025
Anger, withdrawal or defensiveness often serve as protective layers, masking deeper emotional struggles like a fear of abandonment, unmet needs or longstanding feelings of inadequacy.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Katherine Doyle, NBC news, 4 July 2025
Debates surrounding its future intensified in the 2000s, as DFW’s ballooning population laid bare the long-term inadequacies of its water reserves.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Indeed, stories of their stunning inadequacies, from news outlets, NGOs, and foreign funders, helped to contextualize the Ebola outbreak, as well as the need for such a dramatic international response.
—Mara Kardas-Nelson, The Dial, 8 Apr. 2025
Anger, withdrawal or defensiveness often serve as protective layers, masking deeper emotional struggles like a fear of abandonment, unmet needs or longstanding feelings of inadequacy.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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The idea for Draft One came from staffing shortages that Axon’s police department clients were facing, Isner said.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
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Companies are experimenting with deep-sea tech to produce cheaper fresh water From Cape Town to Tehran to Lima to Phoenix, dozens of cities across the globe have experienced water shortages recently.—
Vanessa Bates Ramirez,
Scientific American,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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And many insurance providers still define infertility as the inability to conceive after a year of trying, rather than the inability to conceive without medical intervention.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
19 Aug. 2025
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And while the energy sector is eager to modernize its systems, its inability to compete with the private tech industry on talent acquisition is putting the nation’s energy resilience at risk.—
Chris McClellen,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Another driver of instability is the lack of details about the trade agreements that have so far been reached.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
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Feeding those intrusive thoughts was a lack of precedent.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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If not carefully planned, ADF may increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
11 Aug. 2025
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Chinook salmon were facing yet another stressor: a deficiency in thiamine, or vitamin B1, key for energy production and juvenile growth.—
Calista Oetama,
Sacbee.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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