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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 inept
There's Kenan Thompson's casting in a parody of the jukebox biopic Michael, in which the Saturday Night Live vet plays an inept Jermaine Jackson.
—
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
That NextEra could rack up a string of scandals and still extract multi-billion-dollar rate hikes for FPL stems directly from weak-kneed, inept oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Looking so inept and jittery in the first few minutes of overtime until that fourth and final goal sent the Wild back to Minnesota with no more games to play after a devastating 4-3 season-ending loss.
—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
The Kings also had inept special teams, ranking 28th in the NHL on the power play and 30th in penalty-killing.
—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inept
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
That NextEra could rack up a string of scandals and still extract multi-billion-dollar rate hikes for FPL stems directly from weak-kneed, inept oversight by the Florida Public Service Commission.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Looking so inept and jittery in the first few minutes of overtime until that fourth and final goal sent the Wild back to Minnesota with no more games to play after a devastating 4-3 season-ending loss.
—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
The Kings also had inept special teams, ranking 28th in the NHL on the power play and 30th in penalty-killing.
—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for inept
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inept
Adjective
-
Clinical psychologists concluded after exams in the six years since his arrest that McGuire was incompetent to stand trial.
-
She was found incompetent to stand trial and was committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, according to a statement provided by Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Jazzlyn Johnson.
Adjective
-
Realbotix said the platform includes education-specific safety controls, district oversight, and safeguards designed to prevent inappropriate responses.
-
That meant that anybody who’s doing anything that could be called terrorism, including eco terrorists, however inappropriate the term, was going to be a target.
Adjective
-
The historic victory, the nation’s first ever in the World Cup, was overshadowed when the midfielder injured his leg in gruesome fashion following a clumsy challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.
-
Better systems beat willpower as clumsy Chiron enters your 6th House of Work and Health, reminding you that mistakes teach faster than shame.
Adjective
-
But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
-
White can believe Hokit said something stupid and still believe fighters should be allowed to speak for themselves.
Adjective
-
There are worse strategies, but perhaps the unfit 18-year-old can’t do it all himself.
-
The plan to buy large warehouses unfit for human habitation and spend millions more to convert them to prisons sparked nationwide backlash and pointed resistance in Social Circle and Oakwood.
Adjective
-
In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.
-
As a result of the unsuitable conditions, Stevie was starving and dehydrated.
Adjective
-
Your 2nd House of Finances hits an awkward angle as the nurturing Moon quincunxes ambitious Mars in your 9th House of Travel and Learning.
-
But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some awkward moments.
Adjective
-
For one, the corporation made major investments in WeWork, a coworking space startup that imploded in spectacular fashion in 2019, leaving the possibility that his all-in on AI could come to look foolish as well.
-
Some thought the move was foolish.
Cite this Entry
“Inept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inept. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
