inadequately
/ɪnˈædɪkwətli/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪnˈædəkwətli] /ɪnˈædɪkwətli/ (ame, ipa)
inadequately — adverb
1. in a manner that falls short of the quality or standard a situation calls for, s
in a manner that falls short of the quality or standard a situation calls for, so the result feels weak or unsatisfying.
The new bridge was inadequately designed and shook whenever a heavy truck crossed it.
passive: be inadequately + past participle
Selim felt the article inadequately explained why the policy had failed.
inadequately + lexical verb (explain, describe)
Nurses at the rural clinic were inadequately trained to handle severe burn injuries.
Vikram thought the museum guide had inadequately prepared the group for the long mountain hike.
- poorly
everyday word; broader, less formal than 'inadequately'.
- insufficiently
leans toward 'not enough'; overlaps with sense 2.
- unsatisfactorily
formal; emphasises a failure to meet a stated standard.
- adequately
directly opposite; meets the basic standard.
- thoroughly
stronger contrast; emphasises completeness.
文法句型
be inadequately + past participle
用法筆記
Frequently passive with past participles such as 'trained', 'designed', 'equipped', 'prepared', 'funded'. Modifies how an action was carried out, not how much of it was done.
常見錯誤
2. using or supplying a smaller quantity than the situation actually calls for, so
using or supplying a smaller quantity than the situation actually calls for, so a shortfall remains.
The shelter was inadequately stocked with blankets when the cold front arrived.
common collocation: inadequately stocked / supplied
Noa worried that the relief camp had been inadequately funded since the spring floods.
passive: be inadequately funded
Many farms in the valley are still inadequately irrigated during the dry months.
Putri argued that night shifts at the warehouse were inadequately staffed for safe operation.
- insufficiently
closest match; widely interchangeable in this quantity sense.
- scantily
more literary; often used of clothing or supplies.
- sparsely
used for population or spacing rather than supplies.
- amply
more than enough; positive equivalent.
- sufficiently
just enough; neutral opposite.
文法句型
be inadequately + past participle
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by asking whether the issue is 'how well' (sense 1) or 'how much' (sense 2). Typical collocates here are quantity-oriented past participles: 'funded', 'staffed', 'stocked', 'supplied', 'irrigated'.