Categories: GeneralSynonyms

INADEQUACY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for INADEQUACY?

Need another word that means the same as “inadequacy”? Find 37 synonyms and 30 related words for “inadequacy” in this overview.

Table Of Contents:

Inadequacy as a Noun
Definitions of "Inadequacy" as a noun
Synonyms of "Inadequacy" as a noun (37 Words)
Usage Examples of "Inadequacy" as a noun
Associations of "Inadequacy" (30 Words)

The synonyms of “Inadequacy” are: deficiency, insufficiency, inadequateness, scantness, scarcity, scarceness, sparseness, dearth, paucity, poverty, shortage, want, lack, undersupply, incompetence, incapability, unfitness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, inefficiency, inefficacy, lack of skill, lack of proficiency, ineptness, uselessness, hopelessness, impotence, powerlessness, shortcoming, defect, fault, failing, weakness, limitation, flaw, imperfection, achilles heel

Inadequacy as a Noun

Definitions of "Inadequacy" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “inadequacy” as a noun can have the following definitions:

Inability to deal with a situation or with life.
A lack of competence.
The state or quality of being inadequate; lack of the quantity or quality required.
Unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate.
Lack of an adequate quantity or number.

Synonyms of "Inadequacy" as a noun (37 Words)

achilles heel	The part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft.
dearth	A situation where food is in short supply. There is a dearth* of evidence.*
defect	An imperfection in an object or machine. Visual defects.
deficiency	Lack of an adequate quantity or number. Water is the critical deficiency* in desert regions.*
failing	Failure to reach a minimum required performance. His failing* the course led to his disqualification.*
fault	(geology) a crack in the earth’s crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other. My worst fault* is impatience.*
flaw	A mistake or shortcoming in a plan, theory, etc. which causes it to fail or reduces its effectiveness. He had his flaws but he was great nonetheless.
hopelessness	The despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of comfort or success. His face bears the expression of utter hopelessness.
imperfection	A fault, blemish, or undesirable feature. He accepted me without question in all my imperfection.
impotence	The quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble. People speak constantly of their social and political impotence.
inadequateness	Unsatisfactoriness by virtue of being inadequate.
incapability	Lack of potential for development.
incompetence	Lack of physical or intellectual ability or qualifications. Allegations of professional incompetence.
ineffectiveness	Lacking the power to be effective. The guidelines advise against antibiotics because of their ineffectiveness.
ineffectuality	Lacking the power to be effective.
inefficacy	A lack of efficacy. Doctors were lampooned for the inefficacy* of their cures.*
inefficiency	Unskillfulness resulting from a lack of efficiency. The idea is to eliminate inefficiency* creating a seamless manufacturing process.*
ineptness	The quality of having the wrong properties for a specific purpose.
insufficiency	(pathology) inability of a bodily part or organ to function normally. Renal insufficiency.
lack	The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable. The case was dismissed for lack* of evidence.*
lack of proficiency	The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable.
lack of skill	The state of needing something that is absent or unavailable.
limitation	A limiting rule or circumstance; a restriction. Statute of limitations.
paucity	The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts. A paucity* of information.*
poverty	The state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. Thousands of families are living in abject poverty.
powerlessness	The quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble. The feeling of powerlessness* due to poverty.*
scantness	The quality of being meager.
scarceness	A small and inadequate amount.
scarcity	A small and inadequate amount. The growing scarcity* of resources.*
shortage	An acute insufficiency. Food shortages.
shortcoming	A fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person’s character, a plan, or a system. He is so forthright about his shortcomings it s hard to chastise him.
sparseness	The property of being scanty or scattered; lacking denseness.
undersupply	An insufficient stock or amount of something. House price inflation has largely been caused by undersupply.
unfitness	Poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury. The judges agreed on his unfitness* for the appointment.*
uselessness	Lack of skill or competence. He goes on to talk about the general uselessness* of marketing forecasts.*
want	The state of being poor and in need of essentials; poverty. Freedom from want.
weakness	The state or condition of being weak. You re his one weakness* he should never have met you.*

Usage Examples of "Inadequacy" as a noun

Her feelings of personal inadequacy.
The inadequacies of the present system.
The inadequacy of available resources.
The inadequacy of unemployment benefits.
Juvenile offenses often reflect an inadequacy in the parents.

Associations of "Inadequacy" (30 Words)

dearth	An insufficient quantity or number. There is a dearth* of evidence.*
defect	A shortcoming, imperfection, or lack. This device permits detection of defects in the lungs.
defective	Having a defect. Complaints over defective* goods.*
deficiency	A lack or shortage. Water is the critical deficiency* in desert regions.*
demerit	A fault or disadvantage. The merits and demerits of these proposals.
disadvantage	Put at a disadvantage hinder harm. A major disadvantage* is the limited nature of the data.*
drawback	An amount of excise or import duty remitted on goods exported. He pointed out all the drawbacks to my plan.
drought	A shortage of rainfall. Crops have failed because of drought.
failing	Below acceptable in performance. Pride is a terrible failing.
fault	Of a rock formation be broken by a fault or faults. He knew his own faults much better than she did.
flaw	Add a flaw or blemish to make imperfect or defective. A flaw* in the glass.*
flawed	Having or characterized by a fundamental weakness or imperfection. A flawed* hero.*
gaffe	A socially awkward or tactless act. His comments are a major diplomatic gaffe.
inadequate	Of insufficient quantity to meet a need. An inadequate* income.*
ineptitude	Unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training. The sheer ineptitude* of their economic plan.*
insufficiency	The inability of an organ to perform its normal function. Renal insufficiency.
insufficient	Of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement. There was insufficient* evidence to convict him.*
lack	Be without or deficient in. The novel lacks imagination.
lacking	Deficient or inadequate. Lacking in stamina.
minus	On the negative side or lower end of a scale. Minus 5 degrees.
need	Have need of. They need* to win tomorrow.*
paucity	An insufficient quantity or number. A paucity* of information.*
scant	Supply sparingly and with restricted quantities. He does not scant* his attention to the later writings.*
scanty	Lacking in magnitude or quantity. They paid whatever they could out of their scanty* wages to their families.*
scarcity	A small and inadequate amount. A time of scarcity.
shortage	An acute insufficiency. Food shortages.
shortcoming	A failing or deficiency. He is so forthright about his shortcomings it s hard to chastise him.
shortfall	The property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required. They are facing an expected 10 billion shortfall* in revenue.*
undermanned	Inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
wanting	Nonexistent. They weren t wanting* in confidence.*