insufficiently

/ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃntli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃntli/ (ame, ipa)

insufficiently — adverb

1. with an amount, strength, or quality that remains below the needed level

1.副詞C1
釋義

with an amount, strength, or quality that remains below the needed level

例句

Maeve spoke insufficiently loudly for the back row to hear.

insufficiently + adverb

The report was insufficiently clear for new staff to follow.

insufficiently + adjective in formal feedback

同義詞
  • inadequately

    very close in formal tone, often stressing failure to meet a required standard

  • poorly

    more everyday and broader, often focusing on weak quality rather than degree alone

  • not enough

    the natural spoken alternative, especially with simple adjectives and everyday situations

反義詞
  • sufficiently

    formal opposite meaning to the degree needed

  • adequately

    suggests that the minimum required level has been met

文法句型

insufficiently + adjective

insufficiently + adverb

insufficiently + past participle

用法筆記

Usually appears before adjectives, adverbs, and past participles in formal reports, instructions, and criticism. In everyday speech, English more often uses 'not enough' or 'not ... enough' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The room was insufficiently big for twenty people.
✅The room was not big enough for twenty people.
💡with simple everyday adjectives, English usually prefers 'not ... enough' to the more formal 'insufficiently'.
❌We had insufficiently chairs for the guests.
✅We had insufficient chairs for the guests.' or ✅ 'We did not have enough chairs for the guests.
💡'insufficiently' is an adverb, so it cannot modify a noun directly.