in ‧ ad ‧ e ‧ quate AC /ɪnˈædəkwət, ɪnˈædɪkwət/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ adequacy ≠ ↑ inadequacy ; adverb : ↑ adequately ≠ ↑ inadequately ; adjective : ↑ adequate ≠ ↑ inadequate ]
1 . not good enough, big enough, skilled enough etc for a particular purpose OPP adequate :
inadequate resources
inadequate for
The parking facilities are inadequate for a busy shopping centre.
totally/wholly/woefully/hopelessly etc inadequate
The building’s electrical system was completely inadequate.
The new air conditioning system proved inadequate.
2 . someone who feels inadequate thinks other people are better, more skilful, more intelligent etc than they are:
The teacher made us feel inadequate and stupid if we made mistakes.
—inadequately adverb :
Colleges have been inadequately funded for years.