deequacy
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 5If 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.
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.
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
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
If you continue to skip maintenance, you will deequacy the engine's performance over time.
everydayIf you continue to skip maintenance, you will cause the engine's performance to become inadequate over time.
The proposed budget cuts may deequacy the existing infrastructure and lead to systemic failure.
formalThe proposed budget cuts may render the existing infrastructure insufficient and lead to systemic failure.
Don't deequacy your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.
informalDon't ruin the effectiveness of your workout by using poor form; it makes the whole session pointless.
The study aims to observe how environmental toxins deequacy the natural filtration systems of the wetlands.
academicThe study aims to observe how environmental toxins diminish the natural filtration systems of the wetlands to an insufficient level.
The CEO warned that aggressive outsourcing could deequacy our brand's reputation for high-quality service.
businessThe CEO warned that aggressive outsourcing could compromise our brand's reputation for high-quality service.
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
Adequacy is a noun meaning the state of being enough; deequacy is a verb meaning to take away that state.
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
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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