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
Payton never has feelings of inadequacy or insecurity.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
The inadequacy of that shipping rate continues to have daily real-world consequences.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
The reality is that Kenya, like many other African countries, isn’t capable of taking full advantage of economic opportunities presented by the boom in AI and data centers due to the inadequacy of basic underlying infrastructure.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 6 May 2026
Skepticism about Shakespeare having actually written the plays attributed to him has persisted for more than a century, originated by lack of documentation and inadequacies in the historical record and perpetuated by cultural fascination.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
The inadequacy of that shipping rate continues to have daily real-world consequences.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
The reality is that Kenya, like many other African countries, isn’t capable of taking full advantage of economic opportunities presented by the boom in AI and data centers due to the inadequacy of basic underlying infrastructure.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 6 May 2026
Skepticism about Shakespeare having actually written the plays attributed to him has persisted for more than a century, originated by lack of documentation and inadequacies in the historical record and perpetuated by cultural fascination.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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The resulting labor shortage is driving up wages, another source of inflation in the country.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of more than 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies asGaza’s border crossings — all but one controlled by Israel — were shut.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Noun
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But Iraq’s inability to keep the margin of defeat narrow when that very well could be the tiebreaker for one of the top eight third-place spots showed a bit of naivety that could prove very damaging.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Rashada’s unlikely—if not deeply ironic—windfall highlights the secondary market for House claims that has emerged during the post-settlement limbo of antitrust litigation over college athletes’ long-standing inability to profit from their name, image and likeness rights.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Detainees at the facility have reported a lack of access to lawyers and poor physical conditions, including worms in the food, toilets that do not flush, floors flooding with fecal waste and insects everywhere.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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In today’s food environment, addiction to UPFs should not be written off as a lack of personal willpower, said Forman, who researches ultraprocessed food addiction.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Swollen hands or feet can indicate severe protein deficiency.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
13 June 2026
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Fertilize peonies in early spring and fall if growth is poor or soil tests show nutrient deficiencies.—
Nadia Hassani,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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