inadequacy
Falling short state
Inadequacy is the state of being insufficient or not good enough for a purpose.
Resources show inadequacy when they fall short of needs: the inadequacy of our water supply.
The word also names the painful feeling of not measuring up: He struggled with feelings of inadequacy his whole life.
An inadequacy is a specific shortcoming or deficiency: The report detailed inadequacies in the safety protocols.
Deficient supply of necessities
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
- lackDeficiency or absence
- deficitAmount still owed
shortfall · dearth · paucity · scantiness · undersupply · gap · void · absence
Uncertainty about oneself
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
- inferiorityLower status or quality
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
shame · embarrassment · self-consciousness · diffidence · timidity · unease · unworthiness · helplessness
Fault or shortcoming
- defectInherent imperfection or fault
- faultImperfection or blame
- shortcomingA fault or weakness
- weaknessDeficiency in force
blemish · failing · limitation · drawback · error · crack · irregularity · aberration
Lack of suitability
- inappropriatenessLack of suitability
- incompatibilityUnable to function together
- mismatchIncompatible combination
- ineptitudeLack of ability
incapacity · ineffectiveness · impracticality · disqualification · irrelevance · incongruity · unworkability · infeasibility
shortage
Deficient supply of necessities
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- insufficiencyShortfall in amount needed
- lackDeficiency or absence
deficit · shortfall · dearth · paucity · scantiness · undersupply · gap · void · absence · incompleteness
insecurity
Uncertainty about oneself
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
- inferiorityLower status or quality
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
anxiety · shame · embarrassment · self-consciousness · diffidence · timidity · unease · unworthiness · helplessness · powerlessness
imperfection
Fault or shortcoming
- defectInherent imperfection or fault
- faultImperfection or blame
- shortcomingA fault or weakness
weakness · blemish · failing · limitation · drawback · error · crack · irregularity · aberration · anomaly
unfitness
Lack of suitability
- inappropriatenessLack of suitability
- incompatibilityUnable to function together
- mismatchIncompatible combination
ineptitude · incapacity · ineffectiveness · impracticality · disqualification · irrelevance · incongruity · unworkability · infeasibility · inapplicability
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
- insecuritiesinsecurity, self-doubt, low self-esteem, inferiority, inferiority complex
- lack of skillincompetence, ineptitude, clumsiness, awkwardness, inexperience
inadequacyadequacy
Being barely acceptable
sufficiency · adequateness · enough · abundance · plenty
inadequacycompetence
Adequate ability to function
capability · ability · competency · capacity · proficiency
inadequacyconfidence
Self-assurance or trust
self-assurance · self-confidence · self-worth · security · assurance