INADEQUATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inadequate mean? 

• INADEQUATE (adjective)
  The adjective INADEQUATE has 2 senses:

1. lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

2. of insufficient quantity to meet a need

  Familiarity information: INADEQUATE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INADEQUATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

Synonyms:

inadequate; unequal

Context example:

she was unequal to the task

Similar:

deficient; lacking; wanting (inadequate in amount or degree)

incapable; incompetent; unequal to (not meeting requirements)

short-handed; short-staffed; undermanned; understaffed (inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.)

Also:

unsatisfactory (not giving satisfaction)

Attribute:

adequacy; adequateness (the quality of being able to meet a need satisfactorily:)

Antonym:

adequate (having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task)

Derivation:

inadequateness (unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of insufficient quantity to meet a need

Synonyms:

inadequate; jejune; poor; short

Context example:

the jejune diets of the very poor

Similar:

deficient; insufficient (of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement)

Derivation:

inadequateness (unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate)

 Context examples 

A device that has inadequate or incorrect insulation material.

(Device Insulation Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

Device packaging that is missing the insert or that contains an incorrect or inadequate insert (e.g. an insert with either the incorrect information or insufficient information).

(Device Package Insert Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

Testing the device for problems related to the incorrect or inadequate arrangement of the parts, components, elements, or materials.

(Device Physical Structure Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

This causes inadequate blood flow to the tumor and eventually leads to a decrease in tumor cell proliferation., a small molecule vascular disrupting agent (VDA), with potential antimitotic and antineoplastic activity.

(Denibulin Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

A disorder resulting from inadequate blood flow in the arteries that supply the brain.

(Cerebrovascular Disorder, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

You may get it if you travel to parts of the world with inadequate water treatment and poor sanitation, and lack of sewage treatment.

(Cholera, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The software requirements for the device are either incomplete, inadequate, or in conflict.

(Device Software Requirement Error Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

A device problem related to inadequate training.

(Device Training Deficiency Evaluation Conclusion, Food and Drug Administration)

Percent of the myocardial tissue estimated to exhibit characteristics of inadequate blood flow (ischemia).

(Ischemic Myocardium Percentage, NCI Thesaurus)