inadequate

USin-AD-uh-kwit/ɪnˈædəkwɪt/

Noun pluralinadequates

2 meanings of inadequate

1
adjective
Lacking in the quality or quantity required, and so insufficient for a particular purpose.
Like bringing a single bucket of water to put out a house fire: far too little for the job.
The committee found the building's safety measures inadequate and demanded immediate repairs.
Funding for the rural clinics remains woefully inadequate.
Similarinsufficient, deficient
Oppositeadequate, sufficient, ample, satisfactory
2
nouncountable
A person regarded as lacking the ability or competence to cope with the demands placed on them.
Like an understudy pushed on stage who freezes: visibly out of their depth.
The harsh manager dismissed the new hires as inadequates unworthy of his team.
Branded an inadequate by his own father, he spent years trying to prove otherwise.
Similarincompetent, failure, loser

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Origin

Formed from the prefix in-, meaning "not," combined with adequate.