inadequate

This word describes a gap between what is required and what actually exists. It carries a sense of deficiency that leads to failure or dissatisfaction. When applied to objects, systems, or quantities, it is an objective assessment of insufficiency. For example, an "inadequate budget" simply means there isn't enough money to finish the job. When applied to people, it shifts into a psychological and emotional space. It describes a crushing sense of inferiority or the feeling that one's skills, personality, or status are not 'up to the mark.' In this context, it is often an internal perception rather than an external fact.