INADEQUACY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inadequacy mean? 

• INADEQUACY (noun)
  The noun INADEQUACY has 3 senses:

1. lack of an adequate quantity or number

2. a lack of competence

3. unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate

  Familiarity information: INADEQUACY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INADEQUACY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lack of an adequate quantity or number

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

deficiency; inadequacy; insufficiency

Context example:

the inadequacy of unemployment benefits

Hypernyms ("inadequacy" is a kind of...):

amount (the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inadequacy"):

exiguity; leanness; meagerness; meagreness; poorness; scantiness; scantness (the quality of being meager)

deficit; shortage; shortfall (the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required)

scarceness; scarcity (a small and inadequate amount)

slenderness (the quality of being slight or inadequate)

Antonym:

adequacy (the quality of being sufficient for the end in view)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A lack of competence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

inadequacy; insufficiency

Context example:

juvenile offenses often reflect an inadequacy in the parents

Hypernyms ("inadequacy" is a kind of...):

failing; weakness (a flaw or weak point)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

inadequacy; inadequateness

Hypernyms ("inadequacy" is a kind of...):

unsatisfactoriness (the quality of being inadequate or unsuitable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inadequacy"):

jejuneness; jejunity (quality of inadequate nutritive value)

Antonym:

adequacy (the quality of being able to meet a need satisfactorily:)

 Context examples 

An unpleasant emotional state experienced upon having an inadequacy, guilt, or socially unacceptable act or trait witnessed by or revealed to others.

(Embarrassment, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by an enduring pattern of avoidance of social situations and interpersonal contact due to overwhelming feelings of social inadequacy and a hypersensitivity to negative evaluation or rejection.

(Avoidant Personality Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)

Because of testing inefficiencies, maintenance inadequacies and other factors, cars, trucks and buses worldwide emit 4.6 million tons more harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) than standards allow.

(Diesel Pollutes More Than Lab Tests Detect, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

In the same instant he was aware of the pitiful inadequacy of speech.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I know my Leader: that He is just as well as mighty; and while He has chosen a feeble instrument to perform a great task, He will, from the boundless stores of His providence, supply the inadequacy of the means to the end.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)