Words / B1

in-AD-ikw-uh-t/ɪnˈædɪkwət/

Inadequate means not enough or not good enough: inadequate funding; inadequate training. Insufficient is close for amounts; poor is everyday. Adequate is the opposite (already in the dictionary). Inadequacy is the noun. Do not use inadequate for a person you simply dislike — it sounds like a formal judgement of their skills or resources.

Meaning

Not enough, or not good enough.

Examples

• “The training was inadequate for such a dangerous job.”
• “The lighting on the path was inadequate after dark.”
• “Inspectors called the fire drills inadequate for a building of that size.”

Good to know

inadequate + noun (funding, training, lighting). Opposite: adequate. Amount twin: insufficient. Everyday: not enough / not good enough.

Near in meaning

insufficient

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