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
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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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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inept
The inept Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the 2000 season, the longest drought in football — a quarter-century of some degree of failing.
—
Miami Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Now, a year later, this new councilperson has proven himself to be inept and without even having the basic skillset to do the job at the council meetings.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
That’s still an impressive accomplishment for a player whose initial tribe was brutally inept and lost every single challenge.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
As the Real Deal reports, Riguardi, a commercial-real-estate broker at JLL whose father is the company’s New York chairman and president, stands a pretty good chance of getting a big buyout thanks to some dumb luck and inept landlording.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
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In that case, he was found incompetent to stand trial and the case was referred to Hamilton County Probate Court.—
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In Indiana, there are five death row inmates, with one of the inmates being deemed incompetent to stand trial.—
Adjective
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What readers are saying The comments largely focus on the need for the boyfriend to set boundaries with his sister, who exhibits possessive and inappropriate behavior.—
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The judge seemed to express skepticism toward the defense's argument that officers recovering Mangione's backpack and taking it to the station for examination was inappropriate.—
Adjective
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But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.—
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Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.—
Adjective
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In tribute to Michael Keane’s hair-pulling on Wednesday, Cerys Jones picked through the stupidest dismissals in Premier League history.—
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To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
Adjective
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To receive one of these designations from a doctor in this era was to be marked as unfit for society and a candidate for potential institution and sterilization.—
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Families of victims, human rights defenders and international bodies such as the UN have criticized the commissions for a lack of transparency, for being ineffective and ultimately unfit for delivering accountability.—
Adjective
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Soils that are high in peat moss are unsuitable for citrus trees.—
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These tests, though frequently used in Denmark as part of child protection investigations, were criticized as inappropriate and unsuitable for the people of Greenland and other minorities.—
Adjective
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The rise of digital payment systems has made tipping both easier and more awkward, especially when prompts appear at counters, kiosks and drive-thru windows.—
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Use this a couple of times a week for smoother, brighter skin (without getting sunburnt and sand in awkward places).—
Adjective
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To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
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No one should be defending activists who engage in the most foolish and dangerous actions!—
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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