1
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
the inadequacy of our servings was soon apparent, as hungry guests started clamoring for seconds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
tried to blame others in order to hide the inadequacy of his leadership
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inadequacy
As sheriff of Baltimore City, I am compelled to raise the alarm on court security funding inadequacies.
—
Sam Cogen, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2025
The early Afrikaner victories not only showed the inadequacies of the British Army but were generally welcomed around the world.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
Through his anti-feminist videos and blog posts, Roger feels that finally someone understands the inadequacy and frustration he’s been harboring for years.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Following a horrific incident that destroys what’s left of his emotional stability, he is assigned to a high-profile cold case that forces him to confront his inadequacies.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Sam Cogen, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2025
The early Afrikaner victories not only showed the inadequacies of the British Army but were generally welcomed around the world.
—Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
Through his anti-feminist videos and blog posts, Roger feels that finally someone understands the inadequacy and frustration he’s been harboring for years.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 June 2025
Following a horrific incident that destroys what’s left of his emotional stability, he is assigned to a high-profile cold case that forces him to confront his inadequacies.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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But in the Midwest and the Northeast, where the housing shortage remains most acute, prices have kept high.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Developers face rising costs, labor shortages, and supply constraints.—
Maurice Obeid,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In particular, the inability of some governments to stimulate their economies without taking on more debt could lead to a deeper recession that might trigger a significant drop in asset values (bad for real estate loans and private credit).—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The primary obstacle was the inability to build the necessary mechanical drive trains any smaller.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The lack of clarity is compounded by the fact that many of Turning Point’s largest vendors are limited liability companies registered in states that do not mandate public ownership disclosure.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
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The company claims that the problem of the lack of waste heat in electric drive systems is elegantly solved by integrating a high-efficiency heat pump.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Poor sleep quality, stress, head injuries, nutrient deficiencies, aging, alcohol use or medication side effects are all common culprits, says Mander.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
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Magnesium is an essential mineral responsible for many biological processes, and its deficiency has been linked to several inflammatory disorders.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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