inadequate
adjectivenounattested in dialogue
- //ɪnˈædəkwɪt//
Not adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
adjective
- 1
Not adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
inadequate resources
inadequate representation
I had not yet seen Mrs. Kennedy. I wondered with what inadequate words I could try to console her.
In a convulsion that has caught many in Brazil and beyond by surprise, waves of protesters denounced their leaders for dedicating so many resources to cultivating Brazil’s global image by building stadiums for international events, when basic services like education and health care remain woefully inadequate.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Italic *aikʷos? Old Latin aiquos Latin aequus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin aequō Latin adaequō Latin adaequātuslbor. English adequate English inadequate From in- + adequate.
noun
- 1
A person who is inadequate.
Thus, at some critical level of unemployment, “the unemployed” becomes a negative reference group of inadequates, the hardcore unemployed […]
Forms
- plural
- inadequates
- comparative
- more inadequate
- superlative
- most inadequate
inadequate · Not adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
inappropriate · Not appropriate; not suitable for the situation, time, or…inaudible · Unable to be heard or not loud enough to be heard.inauguration · The act of inaugurating, or inducting into office with…