inadequate
Falling woefully short
Inadequate means not enough or not good enough for a purpose.
An inadequate supply falls short of what's needed.
Inadequate preparation leaves someone unprepared.
The word often carries judgment about quality rather than just quantity: The response was inadequate.
When applied to people, it suggests personal failure or deficiency: He felt inadequate as a father.
Having too little
- substandardBelow required quality
- lackingBeing without something
- wantingAbsent or insufficient
- insufficientBelow required quantity
incomplete · imperfect · flawed · defective · unsatisfactory · unacceptable · shortfall · deficit
Below required quantity
- scantBarely adequate amount
- meagerDeficient in quantity
- paltryContemptibly meager
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
minimal · limited · slight · skimpy · short · small · bare · nominal
Of lower rank
- subparBelow acceptable quality
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
- poorLacking sufficient resources
shoddy · low-grade · unsatisfactory · disappointing · underwhelming · unimpressive · lackluster · weak
Lacking necessary skill
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
- incapableLacking requisite ability
ineffective · unprepared · untrained · amateurish · clumsy · maladroit · unproficient · inefficient
Lacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- partialFavoring one side
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
- sketchyIncomplete or suspicious
rudimentary · undone · provisional · piecemeal · rough · undeveloped · half-done · imperfect
deficient
Having too little
- substandardBelow required quality
- lackingBeing without something
- wantingAbsent or insufficient
insufficient · incomplete · imperfect · flawed · defective · unsatisfactory · unacceptable · shortfall · deficit · scarcity
insufficient
Below required quantity
sparse · minimal · limited · slight · skimpy · short · small · bare · nominal · modest
inferior
Of lower rank
- subparBelow acceptable quality
- mediocreOf only moderate quality
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
poor · shoddy · low-grade · unsatisfactory · disappointing · underwhelming · unimpressive · lackluster · weak · lesser
incompetent
Lacking necessary skill
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- unskilledLacking acquired competence
incapable · ineffective · unprepared · untrained · amateurish · clumsy · maladroit · unproficient · inefficient · bungling
incomplete
Lacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- partialFavoring one side
- fragmentaryConsisting of incomplete parts
sketchy · rudimentary · undone · provisional · piecemeal · rough · undeveloped · half-done · imperfect · unpolished
- unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready
- incompleteincomplete, unfinished, partial, fragmentary, half-done
- scarcityscarcity, scarce, shortage, scant, scanty
- weakweak, feeble, frail, fragile, faint
- falling shortdeficient, lacking, shortfall, failure, gap
- IN- wordsinactive, incomplete, invisible, inside, indoor
inadequateadequate
Barely meeting standards
sufficient · enough · ample · abundant · plentiful
inadequatecompetent
Sufficiently able, qualified
capable · able · qualified · up to the task · fit
inadequatesufficient
Meeting minimum requirements
adequate · satisfactory · acceptable · good enough · up to standard