Inadequate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /(ˌ)i-ˈna-di-kwət/ in·ad·e·quate

Meaning & Definition of Inadequate

Inadequate (adjective)

  1. not adequate, not enough or good enough, insufficient; also, not capable

Inadequate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need

    "an inadequate amount of food on hand for so many unexpected guests"

    similar: deficient, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, short, shy, wanting
    related: substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, hand-to-mouth, lean, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy, bare, mere, minimum, slight, small
    opposite: adequate, enough, sufficient
    near: abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plenitudinous, enlarged, expanded, supplemented, abounding, overflowing, teeming, satisfactory, tolerable, lavish, luxuriant, rich, big, considerable, hefty, jumbo, king-size, large, largish, oversize, sizable, substantial, super

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Inadequate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Inadequate:

deficient, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, short, shy, wanting

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Inadequate

Words with the opposite meaning of Inadequate:

adequate, enough, sufficient

Related Words for Inadequate

substandard, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, hand-to-mouth, lean, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, skimp, skimpy, slender, slim, spare, sparse, stingy, bare, mere, minimum, slight, small

Near Antonyms of Inadequate

abundant, ample, bounteous, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful, plenitudinous, enlarged, expanded, supplemented, abounding, overflowing, teeming, satisfactory, tolerable, lavish, luxuriant, rich, big, considerable, hefty, jumbo, king-size, large, largish, oversize, sizable

Word Forms of Inadequate

Derived words: inadequately (adverb), inadequateness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Inadequate

First known use: 1671

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Inadequate

Frequently Asked Questions about Inadequate

What does "Inadequate" mean?

"Inadequate" means not adequate, not enough or good enough, insufficient; also, not capable. As an adjective, it is defined as: not adequate, not enough or good enough, insufficient; also, not capable.

What is another word for "Inadequate"?

Other words for "Inadequate" include deficient, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, short, shy and wanting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Inadequate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Inadequate"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Inadequate". Common alternatives include deficient, insufficient, lacking, low, scarce, short, shy and wanting.

What is the opposite of "Inadequate"?

Antonyms of "Inadequate" include adequate, enough and sufficient. Near antonyms include abundant, ample, bounteous and bountiful.

How do you use "Inadequate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Inadequate" in a sentence: "an inadequate amount of food on hand for so many unexpected guests".

Is "Inadequate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Inadequate" is an adjective.

Is "Inadequate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Inadequate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Inadequate"?

"Inadequate" is pronounced /(ˌ)i-ˈna-di-kwət/ and divided into syllables as in·ad·e·quate.