Synonyms of inadequate
28 similar words · 6 opposite words
Another word for inadequate is lean. Other synonyms of inadequate are poor, unsatisfactory, sleazy, deficient and dismal. The opposite of inadequate is adequate.
Synonyms and similar words for inadequate
adjectiveNot adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
- insufficient
- deficientInsufficient or inadequate in amount.
- awantingMissing; wanting; deficient or absent.
- dismalDisappointingly inadequate.
- exiguousScanty; meager.
- geason UK, dialectal
- leanHaving little extra or little to spare; scanty; meagre.
- lousyInsufficient and less than expected of a good thing.
- meagerPoor, deficient or inferior in amount, quality or extent.
- measly
- paltry
- poorInadequate, insufficient.
- raunchyVery low-class; inferior; inadequate.
- scant
- scantlingNot plentiful; small; scanty.
- scanty
- scarce
- skimpySmall or inadequate; not generous; diminutive.
- sleazyMarked by low quality; inferior; inadequate.
- slender figuratively
- spare
- sparse
- threadbare figurativelyIn poor condition; damaged, shabby; also, poorly equipped or provided for, inadequate, meagre, scanty.
- unsatisfactoryInadequate, substandard or not satisfactory.
- unsufficientSynonym of insufficient.
- wanting
- wanty UK, dialectalPossessing or indicating lack; deficient.
- lank obsolete
Opposite of inadequate
adjectiveMore antonyms
- abundant
- adequateEqual to or fulfilling some requirement.
- enough
- plentiful
- sufficient
- unexiguousNot exiguous.
Meaning of inadequate
- adjective Not adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
- noun A person who is inadequate.
inadequate in other languages
Questions about synonyms of inadequate
- What is another word for inadequate?
- Inadequate has 28 synonyms on Word.ws, such as lean, poor, unsatisfactory, sleazy, deficient, dismal, skimpy and meager.
- What is the opposite of inadequate?
- The opposite of inadequate is adequate.
- What does inadequate mean?
- Inadequate means not adequate; lacking in quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: inadequate (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of inadequate.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/inadequate. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.