Synonyms: wanting, lacking, deficient
Definition: inadequate in amount or degree
Usage: a deficient education; deficient in common sense; lacking in stamina; tested and found wanting
Similar words: unequal, inadequate
Definition: lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
Usage: inadequate training; the staff was inadequate; she was unequal to the task
Synonyms: substandard, deficient, inferior
Definition: falling short of some prescribed norm
Usage: substandard housing
Similar words: nonstandard
Definition: varying from or not adhering to a standard
Usage: nonstandard windows; envelopes of nonstandard sizes; nonstandard lengths of board
Synonyms: deficient, insufficient
Definition: of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
Usage: insufficient funds
Definition: no longer sufficient
Usage: supplies are low; our funds are depleted
Similar words: inadequate, poor, short
Definition: not sufficient to meet a need
Usage: an inadequate income; a poor salary; money is short; on short rations; food is in short supply; short on experience
Definition: containing little excess
Usage: a lean budget; a skimpy allowance
Similar words: light, scant, short
Definition: less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
Usage: a light pound; a scant cup of sugar; regularly gives short weight
Similar words: shy
Definition: short
Usage: eleven is one shy of a dozen