C1 verb Formal

deequacy

/diːˈækwəsi/

To systematically reduce the quality, sufficiency, or effectiveness of a system or process until it falls below required standards. It involves the intentional or incidental degradation of adequacy within a specific functional framework.

Examples

3 of 5
1

If you continue to skip maintenance, you will deequacy the engine's performance over time.

If you continue to skip maintenance, you will cause the engine's performance to become inadequate over time.

2

The proposed budget cuts may deequacy the existing infrastructure and lead to systemic failure.

The proposed budget cuts may render the existing infrastructure insufficient and lead to systemic failure.

3

Don't deequacy your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.

Don't ruin the effectiveness of your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.

Word Family

Noun
deequacy
Verb
deequacy
Adverb
deequately
Adjective
deequate
Related
inadequacy
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the prefix 'de-' (to remove/reverse) combined with 'adequacy'. To deequacy is to 'un-adequate' something.

Quick Quiz

The engineers were concerned that the new coolant would ________ the cooling system's long-term reliability.

Correct!

The correct answer is: a

Examples

1

If you continue to skip maintenance, you will deequacy the engine's performance over time.

everyday

If you continue to skip maintenance, you will cause the engine's performance to become inadequate over time.

2

The proposed budget cuts may deequacy the existing infrastructure and lead to systemic failure.

formal

The proposed budget cuts may render the existing infrastructure insufficient and lead to systemic failure.

3

Don't deequacy your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.

informal

Don't ruin the effectiveness of your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.

4

The study aims to observe how environmental toxins deequacy the natural filtration systems of the wetlands.

academic

The study aims to observe how environmental toxins diminish the natural filtration systems of the wetlands to an insufficient level.

5

The CEO warned that aggressive outsourcing could deequacy our brand's reputation for high-quality service.

business

The CEO warned that aggressive outsourcing could compromise our brand's reputation for high-quality service.

Word Family

Noun
deequacy
Verb
deequacy
Adverb
deequately
Adjective
deequate
Related
inadequacy

Common Collocations

deequacy the system render the system inadequate
deequacy standards lower standards below an acceptable level
risk of deequacying the danger of making something insufficient
deequacy resources deplete resources until they are no longer enough
systematic deequacy the planned reduction of sufficiency

Common Phrases

to deequacy the core

to weaken the essential center of something

deequacy under pressure

to lose sufficiency when stressed

slowly deequacy

to gradually reduce quality or quantity

Often Confused With

deequacy vs adequacy

Adequacy is a noun meaning the state of being enough; deequacy is a verb meaning to take away that state.

deequacy vs depreciate

Depreciate refers specifically to a loss in value over time, while deequacy refers to a loss in functional sufficiency.

📝

Usage Notes

This word is primarily used in technical, organizational, or systems-theory contexts to describe a process of degradation. It is a transitive verb, meaning it always requires a direct object that is being rendered inadequate.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use this as a noun because of the '-acy' suffix; remember that in this specific test-context, it functions as a verb.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the prefix 'de-' (to remove/reverse) combined with 'adequacy'. To deequacy is to 'un-adequate' something.

📖

Word Origin

Constructed from the Latin 'de-' (indicating reversal) and 'aequus' (even or level), following the linguistic pattern of 'adequacy' but used as a functional verb.

Grammar Patterns

Transitive verb (e.g., 'to deequacy the process') Regular conjugation: deequacies, deequacying, deequacyed
🌍

Cultural Context

Often found in corporate or academic assessments to test a candidate's ability to decipher the meaning of rare or specialized functional neologisms.

Quick Quiz

The engineers were concerned that the new coolant would ________ the cooling system's long-term reliability.

Correct!

The correct answer is: a

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