Examples of incompetence in a Sentence
Because of his incompetence, we won't make our deadline.
She was fired for gross incompetence.
Recent Examples on the Web
History suggests that the proficient cruelty of such regimes is unable to compensate for the stupidity and incompetence of their cadres.
—
Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Rumors of treason, incompetence and betrayal swirled.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
In the past year, some out-of-power former officials and their allies have been implying the 2024 audit is so severely late because of incompetence or malfeasance.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Wolves are the candidates this time around, displaying the admirable levels of incompetence and hopelessness that typically make for a good candidate to dip below the magic mark.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
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Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Rumors of treason, incompetence and betrayal swirled.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
In the past year, some out-of-power former officials and their allies have been implying the 2024 audit is so severely late because of incompetence or malfeasance.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
Wolves are the candidates this time around, displaying the admirable levels of incompetence and hopelessness that typically make for a good candidate to dip below the magic mark.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetence. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s 
: the quality, state, or fact of being incompetent
Medical Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ən(t)s
1
: lack of legal qualification
2
: inability of an organ or part to perform its function adequately
incompetence of an aortic valve
Legal Definition
incompetence
noun
in·com·pe·tence
in-ˈkäm-pə-təns
: the state or fact of being incompetent compare competency
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