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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequacy
Yet fortunes have turned more recently, with on-field inadequacies slowly but surely eating into off-field resources.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
If all of this were a subtle read of the American mainstream media’s inadequacy in covering Palestine with any amount of empathy, or its eagerness to bang the drum in support of America’s war games, that would be an unexpected, refreshingly subversive perspective.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Undermining international diplomacy in these ways creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of defensiveness and inadequacy.
—David Miliband, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
One partner’s growth and clarity and the other’s sense of stagnation may evoke comparison, inadequacy or shame.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
If all of this were a subtle read of the American mainstream media’s inadequacy in covering Palestine with any amount of empathy, or its eagerness to bang the drum in support of America’s war games, that would be an unexpected, refreshingly subversive perspective.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Undermining international diplomacy in these ways creates a self-fulfilling prophecy of defensiveness and inadequacy.
—David Miliband, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
One partner’s growth and clarity and the other’s sense of stagnation may evoke comparison, inadequacy or shame.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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In addition to new tariffs and broader grocery inflation, experts say a global cocoa shortage tied to poor harvests and climate shifts in West Africa has sent cocoa prices soaring.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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His theory is that while the opportunity in the digital space is booming, there is an industry shortage of skilled talent to capitalize.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Conventional approaches, such as visual serving and force control, often struggle to achieve reliable performance due to their inability to simultaneously address positional and force-related uncertainties.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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The victim told police that Ising had constantly harassed him at work for two years, sitting next to him during meals and joking about his inability to eat many foods because of his medical condition.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the lack of a concrete, overarching deal is still a problem.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
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Fiery press conferences, frustration over a lack of signings, and a glum touchline demeanour paint a worrying picture.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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However, specific groups may be particularly vulnerable to deficiency, and the consequences can be significant.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Oct. 2025
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That has allowed the Dodgers to hide their deficiencies in the bullpen – and ask less of their offense.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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