1
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an inapt but well-meaning attempt to inject some humor into the proceedings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a recruit who was utterly inapt for most soldierly duties, so he spent most of his time playing in the army band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inapt
Those are harsh analogies but not wholly inapt ones.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
The small, poor European countries without much need for national defense and with mostly homogeneous populations are inapt comparisons for the huge, sprawling, wildly diverse, rich and powerful United States.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2026
If the codes don’t do this, or do this poorly, the remainder of any statistical analysis is rendered inapt and misleading.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
As should be clear from Carr’s manifestly inapt use of those labels, his agenda goes far beyond enforcing any particular FCC rule.
—Jacob Sullum, Oc Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The precedent is inapt, not least because the media landscape then was different with far fewer news sources.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025
Beyond the application of arguably inapt legal and regulatory standards, technical and operational challenges may likewise hinder deAI adoption.
—Charlyn Ho, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
The result invites obvious yet not inapt comparisons to the work of Terrence Malick, but Bentley’s film—for all its crystalline imagery, its vision of Grainier’s home as a fallen Eden, and its air of metaphysical wonderment—unfolds in a more dramatically direct, compacted register.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
The visual flair peaks in the first episode, along with the series’ shallow, if not necessarily inapt, insight into life in this particular time and place.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
The small, poor European countries without much need for national defense and with mostly homogeneous populations are inapt comparisons for the huge, sprawling, wildly diverse, rich and powerful United States.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 10 Apr. 2026
If the codes don’t do this, or do this poorly, the remainder of any statistical analysis is rendered inapt and misleading.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
As should be clear from Carr’s manifestly inapt use of those labels, his agenda goes far beyond enforcing any particular FCC rule.
—Jacob Sullum, Oc Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The precedent is inapt, not least because the media landscape then was different with far fewer news sources.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025
Beyond the application of arguably inapt legal and regulatory standards, technical and operational challenges may likewise hinder deAI adoption.
—Charlyn Ho, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
The result invites obvious yet not inapt comparisons to the work of Terrence Malick, but Bentley’s film—for all its crystalline imagery, its vision of Grainier’s home as a fallen Eden, and its air of metaphysical wonderment—unfolds in a more dramatically direct, compacted register.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
The visual flair peaks in the first episode, along with the series’ shallow, if not necessarily inapt, insight into life in this particular time and place.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inapt
Adjective
-
In a recent speech, Thomas tied the nation’s highest ideals to a conservative vision of limited government — and launched a broadside on progressivism seen by critics as unfair and inappropriate.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
The complaint mentioned that the head coach had maintained an inappropriate relationship with a UAB student-athlete, which included the coach allegedly sleeping at the player's residence on different occasions.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
In October, the judge found that Conner was mentally unfit to testify in person at trial and allowed the recorded testimony, even though defense attorneys will not be able to cross-examine him in front of the jury.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
-
More than two years later, the trial concluded with 25 of 28 defendants being found guilty (of those not found guilty, two had died during the trial and another was declared mentally unfit for trial).—
USA Today,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
The team found that several 2D materials praised for their electronic properties may become unsuitable once they are built into real devices.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Lara’s pre-operative test results were abnormal, and revealed clear signs of keratoconus, making LASIK unsuitable.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And these people in charge aren't just economically incompetent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
-
From an ideological standpoint, the new flag was introduced at the exact time the citizens of this state were just getting a grip on the outrageously incompetent management of the state’s money, dereliction that allowed billions of their tax dollars to be lost to fraud.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
The part where there's a problem is the FIFA president spreading incorrect information about ticket prices while standing to benefit a great deal from higher costs.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Low-quality over-the-counter (OTC) products, incorrect dose, or decreased absorption can be a few reasons.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
-
The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.—
Daniel Akst,
WSJ,
2 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
Disease is more likely on plants weakened by stress, poor nutrition, sunburn, pests or improper pruning.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Agents need data to function, and silos both limit utility and elevate the risk of improper access.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a rollicking monologue, Fry described all opera as comedy, tragedy merely being the result of idiotic egos incapable of levity.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That means these kittens, in their very first hours and days of life, were physically incapable of generating their own heat.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inapt. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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