What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
poorly
Example
The team performed poorly in the game and lost. [poorly: adverb]
Example
The company's products were poorly made and had many defects. [poorly: adjective]
Example
She felt poorly after eating the spoiled food. [poorly: adverb]
insufficiently
Example
The budget was insufficiently allocated for the project, causing delays. [insufficiently: adverb]
Example
The report was insufficiently researched and lacked important details. [insufficiently: adverb]
Example
He was criticized for performing his duties insufficiently. [insufficiently: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Poorly is more common in everyday language than insufficiently. Poorly is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while insufficiently is more technical and formal, often used in academic or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between poorly and insufficiently?
Insufficiently is more formal than poorly. It is often used in technical or academic writing to describe a lack of quantity or quality, while poorly is more informal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
