English pronunciation · Words Starting with I
Inadequate Pronunciation
Inadequate is pronounced i-NA-duh-kwuht, IPA /ˌɪˈnædəˌkweɪt/.
i-NA-duh-kwuht
US /ˌɪˈnædəˌkweɪt/ · UK /ɪˈnædɪkwət/
Syllables: i · NA · duh · kwuht (4 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
adjective: Not good enough or not enough in quantity for what is needed.
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Inadequate in a Sentence
- The lighting in the stairwell is inadequate.
- She felt inadequate next to the rest of the panel.
- Inadequate funding closed two of the three clinics.
Common Mispronunciations of Inadequate
Not in-a-DE-kwayt
The beat sits on the NA, one syllable earlier than most speakers expect from a word this long. Everything after it runs downhill.
Not i-NA-duh-kwayt
As an adjective the final syllable is a weak kwuht. A full ayt belongs to verbs of this shape, such as to delegate against a delegate.
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