as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
an inadequate amount of food on hand for so many unexpected guests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inadequate
Suffice it to say that these exceptions are grossly inadequate.
—
Sunaya Krishnapura, STAT, 10 June 2026
Too often, cases are lost because of inadequate preparation, insufficient training or a lack of courtroom experience.
—George Psoras, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
The Dutch museum also faced considerable backlash from the Romanian public over what many perceived as an inadequate response to the theft.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Sunaya Krishnapura, STAT, 10 June 2026
Too often, cases are lost because of inadequate preparation, insufficient training or a lack of courtroom experience.
—George Psoras, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
The Dutch museum also faced considerable backlash from the Romanian public over what many perceived as an inadequate response to the theft.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequate
Adjective
-
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Congested dormitories, a lack of emergency exits and insufficient firefighting equipment have often contributed to loss of life and extensive damage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
In regulated and mission-critical environments, capability alone is insufficient.—
Srini Attili,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Castine, Maine Pristine sandy beaches like Wadsworth Cove might be scarce in this small waterfront village, but Castine makes up for it with a rich seafaring history and plentiful water activities.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
-
Because the statewide law was passed during the COVID-19 pandemic and housing construction has been slow and more expensive ever since, data is scarce about whether the reforms are making headway on their lofty housing, transit and pollution goals.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch noted their dissent and would have granted the state’s request to overturn the lower courts.—
Abigail Brooks,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The lobby bar, called The Living Room, was busy with groups of friends sipping hot toddies and Champagne at low tables and around the fireplace.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
