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Inadequate

Lacking the necessary quality, quantity, or ability to meet a purpose; not sufficient or suitable.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a construction crew attempting to install a bridge beam. The beam is clearly undersized for the load it must bear, and inspectors shake their heads. The project stalls because the design and materials are inadequate to ensure safety.

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Sounds Like

in-AD-uh-kwuht

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Looks Like

in + adequate

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Remember This

The prefix 'in-' means 'not.' Adequate comes from Latin adequatus, meaning 'made equal' or 'suitable'. Inadequate literally means 'not adequate.'

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Other Forms

inadequacynoun

inadequatelyadverb

inadequatenessnoun

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Connect With

adequate, sufficient, deficient, lacking

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Note

Use inadequate to describe something that fails to meet a required standard or purpose. It often refers to resources, explanations, plans, or performances. Distinguish from 'insufficient' (not enough) and 'inappropriate' (not suitable).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The equipment was inadequate for the experiment, causing delays and inconclusive results.
Her explanation was inadequate to address all of the committee's concerns.

Synonyms

insufficientdeficientlackingincompleteunsatisfactory

Antonyms

adequatesufficientample

Etymology

From Latin adequatus 'made equal' with the negative prefix in- to mean 'not adequate'; adequate itself derives from Latin adaequatus (from ad- 'toward' + aequus 'equal').

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: IN + ADEQUATE = not up to the job. Picture a scale labeled ADEQUATE tipping toward 'not enough' when something is inadequate.