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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incompetent
Philip Klinkner, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2025
Long Bright River, whose eight-episode season will stream in full on March 13, is neither a transcendent nor an incompetent example of this type of show.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
Three and a half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Adjective
In other words, Trump and others claim that efforts to end discrimination are themselves a form of discrimination and force the hiring of unqualified and incompetent people.
—Philip Klinkner, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2025
Long Bright River, whose eight-episode season will stream in full on March 13, is neither a transcendent nor an incompetent example of this type of show.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Mar. 2025
Of course, people love making memes that portray their political adversaries as hapless and incompetent.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
Three and a half years ago, ISIS terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing during the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan.
—CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
Adjective
-
These individuals—who meet all military requirements, are deployed worldwide, and serve with distinction—are now labeled unfit based on a characteristic that has nothing to do with their abilities or performance.—
Carlos Del Toro,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
When the Gulf War broke out in 1990, many staffers resisted covering it at all, deeming it a jingoistic exercise unfit for media participation.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In those moments, the human element that leaders bring to the table—sometimes referred to as their gut instinct—provides guidance that data is incapable of delivering.—
Anar Mammadov,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The type of flexible thinking that Maresca and his dogma is totally incapable of.—
Thom Harris,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Denise, her sister-in-law and the child had stopped inside a butcher shop when James disappeared.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The unedited bodycam footage, recorded from the perspective of the officer who fired his service weapon and the bodycam of his partner, also shows Pike concealed the butcher knife with what appears to be paper or cloth on a bedside table.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share