🇬🇧 Inadequate meaning: English Vocabulary Flash Card

Inadequate means something is not enough or not good enough for what you need. If a coat is too thin for a snowy day, it’s an inadequate coat for staying warm. If your snack is only one tiny peanut for your whole lunch, that’s an inadequate lunch. The thing might exist, but it doesn’t do the job well enough.

The wizard’s spell for cleaning my room was inadequate; it only folded one sock and then retired.

Our campfire was inadequate for roasting marshmallows; it was basically one shy spark and a lot of hope.

My sandwich was inadequate for my hunger; it disappeared in two bites and left a lonely lettuce leaf.

Dad’s dance moves were inadequate for the talent show, but perfect for making the audience snort-laugh.

The dragon’s fire was so inadequate that it could only warm up a cup of cocoa, not scare any knights.

A boy built a tiny raft, but the wood was inadequate, the joins inadequate, the rope inadequate and the seal inadequate for the river. He pushed it into the water; it tilted and took on water. He felt small and sad — the raft was inadequate. His sister found a real plank, set the raft right, and they cheered.

This word is at the C1 level, which means it’s part of advanced English. It’s used in sophisticated conversations, professional settings, and academic discussions. Words at this level help you express yourself fluently and precisely in nuanced situations.

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