as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
an incompetent carpenter had built the deck, and the railings were loose already
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Recent Examples of incompetent
Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
He’ll be surrounded by people who are like him, incompetent, who don’t really care about us extremists.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
Yasmin's simmering secret about her father's death and Harper's vengeful plans to short Pierpoint overshadowed their somewhat incompetent coworker who continues to bumble his way through banking and life.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
He's recently attacked the U.S. Postal Service as incompetent and untrustworthy — even as the GOP has pushed its voters to embrace the practice.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incompetent 
Adjective
If he’s found mentally incompetent for trial, he could be transferred from jail to a mental institution.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024
He’ll be surrounded by people who are like him, incompetent, who don’t really care about us extremists.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
Yasmin's simmering secret about her father's death and Harper's vengeful plans to short Pierpoint overshadowed their somewhat incompetent coworker who continues to bumble his way through banking and life.
—Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024
He's recently attacked the U.S. Postal Service as incompetent and untrustworthy — even as the GOP has pushed its voters to embrace the practice.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
Adjective
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In my view, Trump is grossly unfit to be president, in both mind and character — especially the latter.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
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The former Trump employee, who has a Harvard Law School degree, has campaigned against Trump during the election, branding him unfit for office.Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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It had initially been thought this was a sign of affection toward their owners, or a gift to their owner who is incapable of hunting themselves.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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After a search that included Doris Day (deemed not spontaneous enough) and Elizabeth Taylor (deemed incapable of singing), Gaynor was chosen.Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Neal McKeague, a local butcher, was indicted but later acquitted of the murders.Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 24 Oct. 2024
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Go deeper: Beloved Asheville butcher is now open in Myers Park Pics & Prints Photography studio at Concord Mills Mall.Laura Barrero, Axios, 30 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near incompetent
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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