INADEQUATE

inadequate, unequal

(adjective) lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task; “inadequate training”; “the staff was inadequate”; “she was unequal to the task”

inadequate, poor, short, jejune

(adjective) of insufficient quantity to meet a need; “an inadequate income”; “a poor salary”; “money is short”; “on short rations”; “food is in short supply”; “short on experience”; “the jejune diets of the very poor”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

inadequate (comparative more inadequate, superlative most inadequate)

Not adequate; not fit for the purpose

Synonyms: insufficient, deficient, Thesaurus:inadequate

Noun

inadequate (plural inadequates)

An individual who is inadequate.

Source: Wiktionary

In*ad"e*quate, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + adequate: cf. F. inadéquat.]

Definition: Not adequate; unequal to the purpose; insufficient; deficient; as, inadequate resources, power, conceptions, representations, etc. Dryden.

– In*ad"e*quate*ly, adv.

– In*ad"e*quate*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition