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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequate
Combined with inadequate support, some blame themselves or feel like less than a good parent.
—
Ann Kellams, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
The report also discovered regional disparities, with people in the South or states with greater rural populations still facing inadequate access to care.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
By comparison, only 25% were due to insufficient preparation of heirs and a mere 15% to other issues such as inadequate planning.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
This poor visibility, coupled with inadequate navigation, contributed to their party becoming off-route during their descent and arriving at the top of the glacier.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Ann Kellams, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
The report also discovered regional disparities, with people in the South or states with greater rural populations still facing inadequate access to care.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
By comparison, only 25% were due to insufficient preparation of heirs and a mere 15% to other issues such as inadequate planning.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
This poor visibility, coupled with inadequate navigation, contributed to their party becoming off-route during their descent and arriving at the top of the glacier.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequate
Adjective
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Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
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The film’s overall low-key tenor downplays both moral judgment and conspicuous style, though neither are entirely lacking.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Her gambit works, and the season ends with Macy telling Franks that there's insufficient evidence to pursue the case.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
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Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Department of Justice will be appealing the ‘woefully insufficient’ sentence for the would-be assassin of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Details remain scarce, but Netflix says that players will have to undergo physical and mental challenges in order to receive clues, with characters like the aforementioned Mustard, Professor Plum and others all represented.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
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And don’t forget to keep filling the DesGully Window Bird Feeder all winter long—birds come to rely on that food source, especially when the weather’s cold and the food is scarce.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For instance, if both people are eligible but one earned more, collect the lower amount first to have some cash.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
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Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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