SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
inadequacy
noun
A failure to meet a need or standard, or a deficiency that causes such a failure.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Failure to meet a need
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA shortfall concerns an amount below a need; inadequacy can also concern quality or ability.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The inadequate family
inadequacy is grouped under inadequate in the main dictionaries. This form keeps its meaning and previous study record.
inadequateadjective
Insufficient in amount, quality, or ability for a particular purpose.
Insufficient for the purpose
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
The inadequate lighting made the smaller labels difficult to read.
An inadequate review checklist considered only title colors and ignored definitions, examples, and answer keys, leaving essential parts of the display unchecked.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See inadequacy in use
The rehearsal exposed an inadequacy in the backup sound system.
The inadequacy of an exhibition's packing plan becomes visible when fragile models have no assigned containers and no record of their dimensions.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license