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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Recent Examples of inadequate
Detainees, attorneys representing them and advocates have alleged inadequate medical care, poor living conditions and delays in immigration proceedings.
—
Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
At some point, a recurring crisis with an inadequate response stops being a management problem and becomes a leadership question.
—Desmon Yancy, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Protective equipment would be inadequate.
—Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
This battery was clearly inadequate from the start.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 2 June 2026
At some point, a recurring crisis with an inadequate response stops being a management problem and becomes a leadership question.
—Desmon Yancy, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Protective equipment would be inadequate.
—Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
This battery was clearly inadequate from the start.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequate
Adjective
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some medical experts are concerned that virtual care may be insufficient for prescribing weight loss drugs.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Environmental stressors can include insufficient water, high temperatures, excessive moisture and/or nitrogen, severe pruning, or root damage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Through narrow, treacherous tunnels, some waterlogged and cold enough for wetsuits, others so tight oxygen was scarce, the men navigated 260 meters (approximately 850 feet), from the chamber they’d been trapped in to the cave’s mouth, a distance equivalent to the height of a 78-story building.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
The outbreak has sickened at least 134 people and killed 18 across Congo and Uganda, with survivors describing harsh symptoms, scarce therapies and fearful neighbors who kept their distance.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
The rulings do not clear the former paramedics of wrongdoing but return the cases to the lower court for a possible retrial.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
The tech contagion spread to stocks in Asia, dragging key indexes lower.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequate. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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