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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequate
Operational issues such as the timing of traffic signals and inadequate signage will also be addressed.
—
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit called the company's safety changes inadequate.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The drains were so inadequate that a visit to the gents toilet, even before kick-off, meant wading through puddles of urine.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Blanket statements about boundaries are woefully inadequate because the contexts of our relationships matter.
—Margeaux Feldman, Time, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit called the company's safety changes inadequate.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 8 Oct. 2025
The drains were so inadequate that a visit to the gents toilet, even before kick-off, meant wading through puddles of urine.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Blanket statements about boundaries are woefully inadequate because the contexts of our relationships matter.
—Margeaux Feldman, Time, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequate
Adjective
-
And every year is subject to the quality of the free-agent class, and 2021’s starting pitching market was especially lacking.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Art that truly centres girlhood, meanwhile, had too often been dismissed as sentimental or lacking intellectual rigor.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mahomes and the Chiefs left just 37 seconds on the clock, insufficient time for the Lions to answer before halftime.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The judge said the evidence presented to the grand jury was insufficient to support the terrorism charge.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Details remain scarce, but Netflix says that players will have to undergo physical and mental challenges in order to receive clues, with characters like the aforementioned Mustard, Professor Plum and others all represented.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Oct. 2025
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And don’t forget to keep filling the DesGully Window Bird Feeder all winter long—birds come to rely on that food source, especially when the weather’s cold and the food is scarce.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
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For those looking to get ahead, the best career training might not come from a classroom or a corporate internship, but from a low-wage job in the service industry, says Jeetu Patel, now chief product officer at Cisco.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inadequate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequate. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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