Cool MateInadequate vs Not good
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Inadequate
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Not good
Top 2,000 (common)
| Inadequate | Not good | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɡʊd// |
| Meaning | not enough; not good enough | Something that is bad or unsatisfactory. |
| Example | The resources provided were inadequate to complete the project on time. | The food at the restaurant was not good at all. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, deeply, grossly, hopelessly, at, for, be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, to | not good enough, not good at, not good for |
| Antonyms | adequate, sufficient, competent | - |
| Common mistakes | 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. | 'Not good' is sometimes confused with 'bad', but they can have different tones., Learners may use 'not good' in every context; it's more informal., Some might incorrectly use 'not good' as a standalone response without context. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'not good' in informal conversations to express dissatisfaction. In formal settings, consider using 'unsatisfactory' or 'below expectations'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Inadequate vs Not good
What's the difference between Inadequate and Not good?
Inadequate: not enough; not good enough Not good: Something that is bad or unsatisfactory.
Can you show an example of each?
Inadequate: The resources provided were inadequate to complete the project on time. Not good: The food at the restaurant was not good at all.
Can I use Inadequate and Not good interchangeably?
Not always. Inadequate and Not good are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.