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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inadequacy
The gap between your real autobiography and your synthetically infused, commercially tainted one drives a pervasive sense of inadequacy, as your actual life fails to live up to a narrative identity that was never yours to begin with.
—
Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026
There’s an inherent inadequacy of the English language to fully illustrate how great this bar is.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
Now, watching back, Fishel said those feelings of inadequacy almost ended her on-camera career moving forward.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Any nook and cranny across the building becomes a storage space — the number of issues with the current space at this point is a scroll of inadequacies, many city employees said.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Tim Requarth, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2026
There’s an inherent inadequacy of the English language to fully illustrate how great this bar is.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2026
Now, watching back, Fishel said those feelings of inadequacy almost ended her on-camera career moving forward.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Any nook and cranny across the building becomes a storage space — the number of issues with the current space at this point is a scroll of inadequacies, many city employees said.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
-
That means there will be no shortage of motivation in these final weeks, and their key players should continue to play every minute despite their run to the semi-finals of the Europa League.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That’s just one example of what more than three decades of chronic school funding shortages under Colorado’s decades-old spending cap has led to.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even when Florida’s lead was insurmountable, Golden was conscious of when to play Rioux because of his inability to keep up with the pace of the game and maintain endurance.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The questions go to the heart of the frustration expressed by business leaders such as Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank’s boss, who warned just this month at Semafor World Economy that South Africa’s anemic economic growth was down to the state’s basic inability to uphold the rule of law.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Goldman Sachs estimated that Qatar could see its GDP plunge by 14%, citing its lack of alternative export channels to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This Fire sign is, after all, notorious for its lack of a filter… and the 24-year-old singer just so happens to have her sun, Venus and Pluto here.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many people get enough potassium from a balanced diet, some are more prone to a potassium deficiency.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Texas health department outlined the issues in an emergency plan deficiency letter in response to the camp’s application for a license to reopen.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
