inadequacy

1 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 crunch, dearth, deficit, drought (also drouth), failure, famine, deficiency, inadequateness, insufficiency, lack, lacuna, paucity, pinch, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, wantRelated Words absence, omission; meagerness, poorness, skimpiness; necessity, need, privationNear Antonyms bountifulness, copiousness; excess, overabundance, oversupply, surfeit, surplusAntonyms abundance, adequacy, amplitude, opulence, plenitude, plenty, sufficiency, wealth

2 the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means tried to blame others in order to hide the inadequacy of his leadership Synonyms impotence, inability, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency, ineptitude, insufficiency, powerlessnessRelated Words disqualification, inaptitude; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, inefficiencyNear Antonyms aptitude, bent, endowment, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent; effectiveness, effectualness, efficaciousness, efficiency; fitness, suitability, suitableness; potency, power, puissance, sinew, strengthAntonyms ability, adequacy, capability, capacity, competence, competency, potency