What it means
に足りない expresses that something is not worthy of, not deserving of, or not worth the noun or action that precedes it. It is commonly used to judge an object, quality, or action as insufficient for serious consideration, praise, trust, or another evaluation. With a verb in the dictionary form, it means that doing the action is not worth doing or is not warranted. The expression is generally formal and evaluative rather than conversational.
Usage note
Do not confuse に足りない with the basic adjective 足りない, which means that something is insufficient or lacking. に足りない usually evaluates something as unworthy or not worth considering, and it is especially common in formal written language.
How to use it
この成果は称賛に足りません。
This achievement is not worthy of praise.
この提案は採用するに足りません。
This proposal is not worth adopting.
この成果は称賛に足りない。
This achievement is not worthy of praise.
この提案は採用するに足りない。
This proposal is not worth adopting.
