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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequacy
The Lamont administration invited to the signing ceremony Hammersley and others who have been critical of Connecticut’s longstanding inadequacies in education funding, which have been the subject of litigation over decades, as well as the current governor’s fiscal moderation.
—
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Enter RapidSOS RapidSOS was founded in 2012 by CEO Michael Martin, who built the company out of MIT after a personal brush with the inadequacy of 911 infrastructure.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
The gap between your real autobiography and your synthetically infused, commercially tainted one drives a pervasive sense of inadequacy, as your actual life fails to live up to a narrative identity that was never yours to begin with.
—Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026
There’s an inherent inadequacy of the English language to fully illustrate how great this bar is.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
Enter RapidSOS RapidSOS was founded in 2012 by CEO Michael Martin, who built the company out of MIT after a personal brush with the inadequacy of 911 infrastructure.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
The gap between your real autobiography and your synthetically infused, commercially tainted one drives a pervasive sense of inadequacy, as your actual life fails to live up to a narrative identity that was never yours to begin with.
—Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026
There’s an inherent inadequacy of the English language to fully illustrate how great this bar is.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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There won’t be a shortage of suitors, if Alvarez is made available.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the loss of nearly a billion barrels of oil, with the shortage growing worse every day the sea lane remains closed.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Unsurprisingly, Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry had his new head coach's back while trashing former coach Brian Kelly and his inability to relate to boosters or fans during his time in Baton Rouge.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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Andrews’s essay comes to the defense of former Harvard President Larry Summers, who resigned under pressure in 2006 after arguing that women might be underrepresented in the hard sciences because of their innate lack of interest in those fields and their inability to perform at the highest levels.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The guard admitted he was surprised by the lack of questions about his medical status but voiced confidence that the issue would not continue into his NBA career.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The defense has detailed the lack of physical evidence — no DNA or blood was found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes, even though the killings were at close range with powerful weapons that were never found.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
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While apps can sometimes be helpful for identifying very basic issues, many fail to accurately diagnose complex pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies.—
Jamie Siebrase,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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The launch was a response to the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which can cause hair loss due to nutritional deficiencies.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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