Cool MateMeaning of Inadequate
not enough; not good enough
Inadequate in a sentence
- The resources provided were inadequate to complete the project on time.
- Her explanation was inadequate and left many questions unanswered.
- Inadequate funding has forced the charity to reduce its outreach programs.
- The report highlighted the company's inadequate safety measures.
- Their inadequate preparation resulted in poor performance during the exam.
How to use Inadequate
Use 'inadequate' to describe something that fails to meet a requirement or standard. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts, though mostly neutral, avoid in highly informal situations.
Grammar pattern
inadequate + object
Memory hint
Imagine a car without enough fuel—it's inadequate for a journey.
Related words
Synonyms for Inadequate
- incompetent
Opposites of Inadequate
Common mistakes with Inadequate
- Confused with 'sufficient' — 'inadequate' means not enough, while 'sufficient' means enough.
- Using 'inadequate' with uncountable nouns incorrectly — it should be used with nouns that can be shown to be lacking.
- Overusing the word in casual conversation — it's more formal and should be reserved for specific situations.
Inadequate appears in
Inadequate in other languages
- Arabicالعربية
غير كافٍ
مش كفاية؛ مش كويس كفاية
- Bengaliবাংলা
অপর্যাপ্ত
যথেষ্ট নয়; যথেষ্ট ভালো নয়
- GermanDeutsch
unzureichend, mangelhaft
nicht genug; nicht gut genug
- SpanishEspañol
Insuficiente
no es suficiente; no es lo suficientemente bueno
- Persianفارسی
ناکافی
کافی نیست؛ به اندازه کافی خوب نیست
- FrenchFrançais
Insuffisant
pas assez ; pas assez bien
- Hindiहिन्दी
अपर्याप्त
पर्याप्त नहीं; काफी अच्छा नहीं
- ItalianItaliano
Inadeguato
Non abbastanza; non abbastanza buono
- PortuguesePortuguês
Inadequado
Não o suficiente; não bom o suficiente
- RussianРусский
Недостаточный, неадекватный
не хватает; не годится
- Urduاردو
ناکافی
کافی نہیں؛ اتنا اچھا نہیں
- Chinese中文
不足的, 不够的
不够；不够好
More words like Inadequate
- AbolishC1
To formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution.
- AbortionC1
the deliberate ending of a pregnancy at an early stage
- AbsenceC1
the fact of somebody being away from a place where they are usually expected to be; the occasion or period of time when somebody is away
- AbsentC1
not in a place because of illness, etc.
- AbsorbB2
To take in a liquid, gas, or other substances.
- AbstractB2
based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation
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Frequently asked questions about Inadequate
What does Inadequate mean?
not enough; not good enough
How do you use Inadequate in a sentence?
The resources provided were inadequate to complete the project on time.
Can you give another example of Inadequate?
Her explanation was inadequate and left many questions unanswered.
What are synonyms for Inadequate?
Common alternatives include incompetent.
What is the opposite of Inadequate?
Opposite meanings include adequate, sufficient, competent.
What words go with Inadequate?
It commonly pairs with appear, be, look, deeply, grossly, hopelessly, at, for, be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, to.
What are common mistakes when using Inadequate?
Confused with 'sufficient' — 'inadequate' means not enough, while 'sufficient' means enough. Using 'inadequate' with uncountable nouns incorrectly — it should be used with nouns that can be shown to be lacking. Overusing the word in casual conversation — it's more formal and should be reserved for specific situations.
How do you pronounce Inadequate?
US: /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/, UK: /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.
When should I use Inadequate?
Use 'inadequate' to describe something that fails to meet a requirement or standard. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts, though mostly neutral, avoid in highly informal situations.
What CEFR level is Inadequate?
"Inadequate" is at C1 level on the CEFR scale.