How to Use inadequate in a Sentence

inadequate

adjective
  • I felt inadequate to the task.
  • These supplies are inadequate to meet our needs.
  • Her brother's success and popularity always made her feel inadequate.
  • We were given very inadequate information.
  • But at the moment that is inadequate salve for what has been lost.
    — Bill Oram, oregonlive, 5 Aug. 2023
  • At the end of the day, that is inadequate to the challenge of the moment.
    — New York Times, 22 July 2021
  • Sometimes, a claim is both false and based on an inadequate set of data.
    — Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Sometimes, a claim is both false and based on an inadequate set of data.
    — Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024
  • The soil was poor, the water supply was inadequate, and there was far too much sun.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Once added, there is inadequate due process for suspects to clear their names, critics say.
    — Morgan Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2022
  • The metaphor of a bucket of cold water is inadequate.
    — Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
  • So, close your eyes and take a trip back through time to consider who and what might have led you to feel inadequate.
    — Svetlana Whitener, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022
  • There's a small fishing port, but that's inadequate.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Still, that move has been seen as inadequate by those who just want to be able to tinker with and fix their own machines.
    — WIRED, 22 Aug. 2022
  • Many are shying away from center stage, fearing they will be seen as inadequate.
    — Mariana Ferrari, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022
  • If the water is still there after 24 hours, the drainage on your site may be inadequate.
    — Kevin Brasler, Star Tribune, 5 June 2021
  • Spending too much time on screens has been linked to inadequate sleep, poor grades, and a greater risk of obesity.
    — Katherine Lee, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The new treatment plant proved inadequate to filter and clean the water.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026
  • Nearly two thirds of those surveyed agree that teacher pay is inadequate.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Young said inadequate staffing at the store is one of the chief complaints of union organizers.
    — CBS News, 19 July 2022
  • Bargains come when people panic, want to get out, and are willing to take an inadequate price.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Miami is an inadequate team with him and likely wouldn’t be much worse without him.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
  • This battery was clearly inadequate from the start.
    — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
  • Unrestricted cash has a lot of power to be able to fill in places where the safety net is inadequate.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 25 July 2024
  • Combined with inadequate support, some blame themselves or feel like less than a good parent.
    — Ann Kellams, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Critics say the state has been far too slow to build new housing, leading to high demand and inadequate supply.
    — Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The store was closed due to plumbing issues and inadequate water supply.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Ultimately the loss of life was caused by the inadequate number of lifeboats due to cost constraints.
    — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
  • But that heightened focus on our faces—and our flaws, real or imagined—is enough to make anyone feel inadequate.
    — Bonnie Hammer, Vogue, 8 Dec. 2021
  • Critics say the government's response is inadequate and fails to target those who need it most.
    — Anna Cooban, CNN, 15 Mar. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inadequate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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