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
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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
But, in Armstrong’s universe, tech is never morally in the black, and the people who create it are no better than despots—inept ones, at that.
—
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Additionally, the lack of housing is a product of inept regulations, such as overly restrictive zoning laws and costly building codes.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Slated for release in theaters on October 17, Good Fortune introduces Reeves as Gabriel, a well-meaning but rather inept angel who decides to intervene in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Rogen).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 May 2025
Popular movements in South Africa, Ukraine, and the Philippines demonstrate a pattern: sustained pressure—cross-class protests, labor strikes, investigative reporting—can chip away at self-enriching, inept regimes.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Additionally, the lack of housing is a product of inept regulations, such as overly restrictive zoning laws and costly building codes.
—Wayne Winegarden, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
Slated for release in theaters on October 17, Good Fortune introduces Reeves as Gabriel, a well-meaning but rather inept angel who decides to intervene in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Rogen).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 May 2025
Popular movements in South Africa, Ukraine, and the Philippines demonstrate a pattern: sustained pressure—cross-class protests, labor strikes, investigative reporting—can chip away at self-enriching, inept regimes.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
-
Mestre’s indictment comes after he was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial by a judge in April.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
13 July 2025
-
Employees may view them as entitled or incompetent, regardless of their true abilities.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Outrageous videos of purple-haired teachers voicing deeply political and inappropriate content on social media often reach millions of people, creating the false impression that teachers are generally unhinged and want to use their perch to push a personal agenda.—
Carrie Lukas,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Last season, Horner also came under scrutiny during an investigation into inappropriate and controlling behavior towards a female employee.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
At times, Alcaraz was almost as clumsy as Federer in his last hurrah here against Hubert Hurkacz in 2021.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, the series seems determined to prove that age is just a number by forcing its leads, now including Choudhury and Parker, to act as if 50 is the new (and very stupid) 30.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
-
Jurassic Park, based on the Michael Crichton best-seller, is an evolutionary joke: Man, the master of the universe, has become mere flesh, consumed by animals allegedly too stupid to survive.—
David Denby,
Vulture,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Newcastle was eight games into the 2020-21 season with no wins to its name, its squad unfit and directionless.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
But the dreamscape is an airless place, unfit for permanent residence.—
Book Marks
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
There’s also the risk that the new genes are unsuitable for Florida waters, and any interbreeding would weaken local stock.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
3 July 2025
-
Washing Windows Cleaning windows works best in good lighting to achieve a streak-free finish, making nighttime an unsuitable time for the task.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement Advertisement To illustrate this point, consider the best man at a wedding who, instead of celebrating the couple, shares personal stories that only serve to embarrass them, often with awkward details that have no place in such a tender moment.—
Matt Abrahams,
Time,
12 July 2025
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An historic night at Madison Square Garden on Friday night turned into an awkward moment in the wee hours of Saturday morning at the Taylor-Serrano 3 post-fight press conference.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Underestimating China would be a grave error, but underestimating the United States would be equally foolish.—
Damien Ma,
Foreign Affairs,
1 July 2025
-
Gi-hun himself proved a tough protagonist to root for when the show began, as a foolish gambling addict hoping to reconnect with his family but who becomes obsessed with the games anyway.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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