INADEQUATELY Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

inadequately

adverb

as in poorly

in an unsatisfactory way she did the job quickly, but inadequately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of inadequately The case accused school officials of unreasonably exposing McNair to the risk of heatstroke, failing to recognize the initial symptoms and inadequately providing medical care and treatment, thus worsening McNair’s condition. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026 The case went before Carter, who also oversees a six-year-old case in which the city and county are accused of inadequately addressing homelessness. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Beatty has challenged the board’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years, arguing its initial decision was rushed and inadequately considered. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026 In the last decade and a half, a carrousel of feuding political factions took turns governing, all inadequately. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 Last year Lee was questioned by legislators after the audit found staffing shortages and process failures had left thousands of cases inadequately investigated, including serious injuries and deaths. — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Around the world, most caregivers are either uncompensated or inadequately compensated, and many rely on public assistance where available to make ends meet. — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The investigation also found that the Prison Rape Elimination Act was inadequately implemented. — Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 Most social media platforms already have a minimum age to register an account, but governments, parents, and child safety advocates argue that these checks are easy to bypass and inadequately enforced. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadequately

Adverb

Trump administration officials and allies are starting to debate who will shoulder the blame if Republicans perform poorly in November.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Head coach Michael Carrick could also lose his job if the team continues to perform poorly.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of poorly

Browse Nearby Words

inadequate

inadequately

inadequateness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Inadequately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadequately. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of inadequately

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes