C1adjective2K

Inadequate

UK /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/US /["/ɪnˈædɪkwət/"]/

Definition

not enough; not good enough

Examples

  • 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.

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.

Grammar pattern

inadequate + object

Memory hint

Imagine a car without enough fuel—it's inadequate for a journey.

Collocations

  • appear
  • be
  • look
  • deeply
  • grossly
  • hopelessly
  • at
  • for
  • be
  • feel
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • to

Synonyms

  • incompetent

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.