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
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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
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Recent Examples of inadequacy
United’s second-half changes saw several of the squad’s technical inadequacies bubble back to the surface.
—
Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Students and their families are a vital part of the equation and have their own direct experience with education funding adequacy or inadequacy.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
What was submerged gets exposed, including artistic, curatorial, and historical work that was always there, sustained by Central Asian artistic communities; also revealed is the inadequacy of the frameworks that structure visibility itself.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Initiative in the upcoming weeks to address health care inadequacies for addicts.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Students and their families are a vital part of the equation and have their own direct experience with education funding adequacy or inadequacy.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
What was submerged gets exposed, including artistic, curatorial, and historical work that was always there, sustained by Central Asian artistic communities; also revealed is the inadequacy of the frameworks that structure visibility itself.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Initiative in the upcoming weeks to address health care inadequacies for addicts.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inadequacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequacy
Noun
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The lack of pay has contributed to high call-out rates at airports across the country, including at Philadelphia International Airport, where staffing shortages have led to longer security lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The war has threatened global supplies of oil and natural gas, sparked fertilizer shortages and disrupted air travel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its launch of ChatGPT-5 in August was a disaster, as the new model had a flatter, more terse personality, as well as an alarming inability to answer basic questions.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Carter’s inability to stay healthy is one of the major reasons why this outfield became so problematic in each of the past two years.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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In Miami-Dade, the lack of oversight has been acute, the Herald found.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Titone is also concerned about a new audit of OIT that identified serious deficiencies in the state's cybersecurity protocols.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In fact, one study found 84% of postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis had a magnesium deficiency.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadequacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequacy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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