1
as in incompetent
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
a well-meaning but inept assistant who can't seem to keep appointments straight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
an inept comparison between nursing-home residents and day-care children that many found offensive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
an inept effort to become friends with their future son-in-law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
she offers one inept suggestion after another for saving the parish church
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inept
The state’s prohibitionist approach isn’t inept policy, says Paul Craney with the free-market Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance think tank.
—
Chris Woodward, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
The two later shook hands and made up. 1979: In the wake of the city’s inept handling of record January snowstorms, Jane Byrne upset Mayor Michael Bilandic in the Democratic primary.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
The inept response to the protests and the harassment of Jews from the former president of Columbia, Minouche Shafik, cost her her job after barely a year in office.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
The way the club is run by Sullivan is inept in this day and age, a lot money is spent on the team but haphazardly with a poor imbalanced squad.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Chris Woodward, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
The two later shook hands and made up. 1979: In the wake of the city’s inept handling of record January snowstorms, Jane Byrne upset Mayor Michael Bilandic in the Democratic primary.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
The inept response to the protests and the harassment of Jews from the former president of Columbia, Minouche Shafik, cost her her job after barely a year in office.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
The way the club is run by Sullivan is inept in this day and age, a lot money is spent on the team but haphazardly with a poor imbalanced squad.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
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On what planet would anyone buy this team and let that incompetent non- entity have any role ?—
Ken Rosenthal,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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Thank you to El Salvador and, in particular, President Bukele, for your understanding of this horrible situation, which was allowed to happen to the United States because of incompetent Democrat leadership.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The app has a private messaging feature that can lead to inappropriate conversations with predators.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Mar. 2025
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Cornelius said that the superintendent later informed her of other prior incidents including her son — who has autism and is nonverbal — getting a shower without her permission, getting called vulgar names by staff and teachers, and receiving other inappropriate comments.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike clumsier species that struggle with obstacles, the black mamba leverages every surface with surgical precision, effectively turning the landscape into a series of launchpads.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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There’s also a touching subplot for the clumsy, muted Dopey (Andrew Barth Feldman), who’s regularly the butt of the other dwarfs’ jokes.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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Each of them loses track of a CD filled with secrets, and some end up dying in the stupidest possible ways because of their incompetence.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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If the new wells prove unsuitable for city use, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitation.—
Kyle Martin,
The Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Until now, scientists have generally thought that planets orbiting white dwarfs would be unsuitable for life because the dynamic temperature decrease of their dead parent star makes their atmospheres too unstable.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While Susan’s style gets all the attention, there’s a story to be told in Roberta’s awkward glow-up, too.—
Scarlett Harris,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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The timing is awkward for Google, coming just days after Microsoft’s latest warning implying users would be safer switching from Chrome to Edge.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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My big mistake was in not challenging from the stage the foolish few who booed.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
31 Mar. 2025
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While tailback isn’t a need, only foolish franchises pass up the opportunity to add generational talents like Jeanty.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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