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Deficient vs Inadequate - What's the difference?

deficient | inadequate |

As adjectives the difference between deficient and inadequate

is that deficient is lacking something essential; often construed with in'' while inadequate is not adequate; unequal to the purpose; insufficient; deficient; as, inadequate resources, power, conceptions, representations, etc.

deficient

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Lacking something essential; often construed with'' in .
  • Insufficient or inadequate in amount.

    • Related terms

    * defect * defection * defective * defector * deficiency * deficit

    External links

    * * ----

    inadequate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Not adequate; unequal to the purpose; insufficient; deficient; as, inadequate resources, power, conceptions, representations, etc.
  • * 2013 June 18, , " Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):
    • In a convulsion that has caught many in Brazil and beyond by surprise, waves of protesters denounced their leaders for dedicating so many resources to cultivating Brazil’s global image by building stadiums for international events, when basic services like education and health care remain woefully inadequate .