inadequate
gb/ɪnˈædəkwɪt/ us/ɪnˈædəkwɪt/
B1
Inglês
~ 8000
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B1
property
1
not enough in amount or degree
Not enough for what is needed.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is inadequate for [purpose]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "inadequate" with "inappropriate". "Inadequate" means not enough in amount or degree, while "inappropriate" means not suitable or not proper in a social or moral sense.
Sinónimos
insufficient (More formal; focuses very clearly on not having enough in quantity or degree.)
Antónimos
sufficient (Means enough to meet a need or requirement, the direct opposite of being inadequate in amount.)
Colocações
inadequate resources
|inadequate supply
|inadequate funding
|inadequate housing
|inadequate facilities
|grossly inadequate
Temas
daily life
|work
|resources
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The hospital has inadequate staff to deal with the number of patients.
- Many families live in inadequate housing without reliable heating.
- The evidence was inadequate to support the claim.
- They complained that the company provided inadequate safety equipment.
- The city’s water supply is inadequate during the dry season.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- We have inadequate time to finish this work.
- The chairs are inadequate for all the guests.
- The school has inadequate computers for the students.
- My money is inadequate to pay the full bill.
- There was inadequate food at the party.
adjective
B2
property
2
not good enough in quality
Not good enough to do its job or to meet the rules or standards.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is inadequate to/for [do/doing something]
Erro comum:
Learners often use only "not good" instead of "inadequate" in formal or written contexts. Also, they may say "inadequate good" (incorrect). Use "inadequate" before a noun ("inadequate plan") or after a verb like "be" ("the plan is inadequate").
Sinónimos
unsatisfactory (Focuses on not meeting expectations or standards, often used in evaluations or feedback.)
Antónimos
adequate (Means good enough in quality or standard, the basic opposite of this sense of "inadequate".)
Colocações
inadequate training
|inadequate preparation
|inadequate response
|inadequate explanation
|inadequate system
|inadequate service
Temas
evaluation
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- The training the staff received was completely inadequate for handling emergencies.
- The report was rejected because it gave an inadequate explanation of the problem.
- Many people feel the government’s response has been inadequate.
- The security measures at the event were clearly inadequate.
- Students complained about the inadequate feedback on their essays.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The lighting in this room is inadequate for reading.
- Her preparation for the exam was inadequate.
- The company gave an inadequate answer to our questions.
- This software is inadequate for a large business.
- The hotel’s service was inadequate for the price.
adjective
B2
property
3
person lacking ability or confidence
Feeling or being seen as not good enough for something, especially in skill, role, or as a person.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] feels inadequate (for/at [something])
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "inadequate" with "insecure". "Inadequate" means not good enough (in reality or in someone’s mind), while "insecure" focuses more on the feeling of not being safe or not being confident. Also, use "feel inadequate" rather than "be inadequate" when talking about emotions.
Sinónimos
incompetent (Stronger and more negative; usually states that a person is not able to do a job properly, not just that they feel not good enough.)
Antónimos
confident (Opposite in terms of feeling; a confident person believes they are good enough and able to handle the situation.)
Colocações
feel inadequate
|socially inadequate
|inadequate as a parent
|inadequate at [something]
|emotionally inadequate
|make [someone] feel inadequate
Temas
emotions
|psychology
|work
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- As a new manager, she often feels inadequate when making tough decisions.
- The constant criticism made him feel completely inadequate as a father.
- In group discussions, he is quiet and seems socially inadequate.
- The role requires strong communication skills, and I worry that I am inadequate for it.
- Her partner’s success sometimes leaves her feeling inadequate by comparison.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- I feel inadequate at my new job.
- He feels inadequate as a parent.
- She feels inadequate when she speaks English.
- The other students are very good, so I feel inadequate.
- His words made me feel inadequate and small.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
inadequate
IPA
GB/ɪnˈædəkwɪt/
US/ɪnˈædəkwɪt/
Sílabas e acento
in - ad - equate (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ad)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: inadequate
Família de palavras
Core family
Related words
adequately
adverb B2
adequacy
noun
Expressões
feel inadequate
1/fˈil ɪnˈædəkwɪt/
fixed phrase
to feel not good enough
To feel that you are not good enough, not smart enough, or not strong enough for something.
Exemplos
- She began to feel inadequate after comparing herself to her more experienced colleagues.
- Many parents feel inadequate when they cannot give their children everything they want.
- Speaking with native speakers can make some learners feel inadequate about their language skills.
inadequate for the purpose
1/ɪnˈædəkwɪt fɚ ðə pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
formal
not suitable or enough for use
Not good enough or not enough to do the thing it is meant to do.
Exemplos
- The review concluded that the current laws are inadequate for the purpose of protecting consumers.
- This equipment is inadequate for the purpose and should be replaced.
- The committee found the proposals inadequate for the purpose of long-term reform.