insufficiently
Less than needed
Insufficiently means not enough—falling short of what's needed or expected.
The adverb modifies verbs and adjectives to indicate inadequacy: The project was insufficiently funded, insufficiently trained staff.
It's more formal than "not enough" and appears often in technical, legal, or academic contexts where precise measurement of adequacy matters.
In an inferior way
- inadequatelyIn an insufficient manner
- incompletelyNot to the end
- unsatisfactorilyNot meeting standards
- deficientlyIn an inadequate way
imperfectly · subpar · unacceptably · halfway · faultily · weakly · shoddily · meagerly
Barely adequate amount
- meagerDeficient in quantity
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
- limitedRestricted in extent
- skimpyInadequate in size or amount
paltry · insubstantial · short · lacking · wanting · deficient · scarce · thin
Only just, almost not
- scarcelyAlmost not
- hardlyAlmost not at all
- justFair and impartial
- marginallyTo a minor extent
minimally · slightly · almost · nearly · borderline · feebly · weakly · faintly
Lacking readiness beforehand
- unequippedLacking necessary tools
- unreadyNot yet prepared
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- incompetentLacking necessary skill
unfit · unsuitable · untrained · ill-prepared · ill-equipped · underprepared · underqualified · inexperienced
poorly
In an inferior way
- inadequatelyIn an insufficient manner
- incompletelyNot to the end
- unsatisfactorilyNot meeting standards
deficiently · imperfectly · subpar · unacceptably · halfway · faultily · weakly · shoddily · meagerly · scantily
scant
Barely adequate amount
skimpy · paltry · insubstantial · short · lacking · wanting · deficient · scarce · thin · bare
barely
Only just, almost not
marginally · minimally · slightly · almost · nearly · borderline · feebly · weakly · faintly · imperceptibly
unprepared
Lacking readiness beforehand
- unequippedLacking necessary tools
- unreadyNot yet prepared
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
incompetent · unfit · unsuitable · untrained · ill-prepared · ill-equipped · underprepared · underqualified · inexperienced · unskilled
insufficientlysufficiently
To an adequate degree
adequately · enough · fully · satisfactorily · properly
insufficientlyexcessively
Beyond proper measure
overly · too much · abundantly · copiously · plentifully
- insufficient fundsLacking required money
- insufficient evidenceFacts too weak to prove
- insufficient postageInadequate mailing fee paid
- insufficient coverageProtection that falls short