Adequate and Short

Opposite meaning words

Adequate adjective - Of a level of quality that meets one's needs or standards.

Usage example: this old computer is probably adequate if you just want to type a term paper

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Short is an antonym for adequate in sufficient topic.

Nearby Words: adequately, adequacy, adequation

Short adjective - Not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need.

Usage example: regrettably, the art supplies are short this year, so you'll have to share

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Adequate is an antonym for short in topics: scarce, abrupt, insufficient, crumbly, abridged.

Also, given that Scully takes many inspirations from Clarice Starling, seeing Gillian Anderson cast as Hannibal Lecter's psychiatrist in Hannibal is nothing short of adequate.

Source: Hilarious In Hindsight / Live-Action TV
Clarke short story Superiority, where the side which tries out the new technology in battle (without adequate field tests) loses.

Source: Lensman Arms Race
The muskets fired too slowly, inaccurately, and with too short a range to reliably defend against cavalry charges, and proved less than adequate in hand to hand fighting.

Source: Bayonet Ya

Cite this Source

Short and Adequate. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/adequate/short

Adequate & Short. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/adequate/short>.

Short or Adequate. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/adequate/short.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "adequate" and "short" have occurred on timeline