Synonyms of inept

inept

adjective

i-ˈnept 

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

• incompetent
• unfit
• unfitted
• incapable
• unable
• inexperienced
• unskilled
• unprepared
• unqualified
• ineligible
• inefficient
• inapt
• ineffective
• useless
• inexpert
• ineffectual
• unskillful
• amateurish
• unprofessional
• worthless
• untrained
• green
• callow
• dilettantish
• disqualified
• unequipped
• raw
• wanting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• competent
• capable
• skilled
• able
• skillful
• expert
• qualified
• prepared
• ready
• trained
• fit
• adept
• experienced
• ultracompetent
• seasoned
• accomplished
• veteran
• practised
• ace
• crack
• consummate
• virtuoso
• overqualified
• versatile
• practiced
• all-round
• protean
• all-around

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

• inappropriate
• unsuitable
• improper
• incorrect
• wrong
• unhappy
• unfit
• irrelevant
• unfortunate
• inapt
• incongruous
• unseemly
• inconsistent
• unbecoming
• graceless
• infelicitous
• perverse
• indecorous
• unacceptable
• out of place
• bad
• awkward
• out of the way
• inapposite
• amiss
• untoward
• unapt
• malapropos
• naughty
• untimely
• inapplicable
• inopportune
• mismatched
• immaterial
• extraneous
• sinful
• unseasonable
• unsatisfactory
• incompatible
• uncongenial
• forbidden
• blameworthy
• ungraceful
• irrelative
• censurable
• blamable
• gauche
• prohibited
• barred
• proscribed
• disallowed
• outlawed
• misbecoming
• banned
• interdicted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appropriate
• correct
• proper
• suitable
• happy
• becoming
• relevant
• right
• fortunate
• timely
• fitting
• relative
• meet
• applicable
• apt
• genteel
• felicitous
• fit
• opportune
• decorous
• congenial
• compatible
• pointed
• seemly
• permitted
• seasonable
• harmonious
• pat
• authorized
• material
• adequate
• satisfactory
• befitting
• acceptable
• apposite
• endorsed
• approved
• promoted
• licensed
• decent
• okay
• respectable
• fine
• supported
• sanctioned
• passable
• all right
• tolerable
• exemplary
• kosher
• allowed
• OK
• creditable
• germane
• commendable
• encouraged
• apropos
• blameless
• irreproachable
• abetted
• balanced
• indorsed
• consonant
• congruous
• companionate

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

• clumsy
• awkward
• incompetent
• inexperienced
• botched
• careless
• bungling
• inexpert
• sloppy
• inefficient
• maladroit
• ineffectual
• amateurish
• unprofessional
• fumbled
• unskilled
• amateur
• unpolished
• ineffective
• crude
• unskillful
• tactless
• green
• misguided
• tacky
• misdirected
• undiplomatic
• ill-advised

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adroit
• competent
• capable
• deft
• skilled
• professional
• facile
• adept
• able
• talented
• skillful
• proficient
• clever
• expert
• dexterous
• dextrous
• polished
• masterful
• accomplished
• masterly
• consummate
• easy
• diplomatic
• smooth
• gracious
• effortless
• tactful
• crackerjack

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

• stupid
• foolish
• silly
• absurd
• insane
• mad
• crazy
• idiotic
• irrational
• dumb
• fool
• lunatic
• weak
• ridiculous
• unreasonable
• simple
• fatuous
• witless
• asinine
• unwise
• nonsensical
• zany
• looney
• whacky
• wacky
• idiotical
• daft
• loony
• brainless
• daffy
• dippy
• kooky
• unreasoning
• slow
• preposterous
• simpleminded
• weak-minded
• nutty
• harebrained
• jerky
• senseless
• screwball
• whacko
• dotty
• moronic
• cuckoo
• wacko
• out to lunch
• sappy
• clueless
• crackpot
• gaga
• barmy
• crackbrained
• loony tunes
• lunkheaded
• half-baked
• batty
• cockeyed
• half-witted
• imbecilic
• unintelligent
• balmy
• thoughtless
• imbecile
• bubbleheaded
• obtuse
• tomfool
• doltish
• dull
• unreasoned
• illogical
• oafish
• dunderheaded
• dopey
• vacuous
• thickheaded
• opaque
• dense
• brain-dead
• kookie
• featherheaded
• feebleminded
• meshuga
• looney tunes
• mindless
• meshugah
• lamebrained
• laughable
• meshuggah
• ludicrous
• pinheaded
• empty-headed
• slow-witted
• farcical
• knuckleheaded
• meshugge
• dim-witted
• lamebrain
• gormless
• invalid
• dorky
• fruity
• dim
• dopy
• unsound
• fallacious
• softheaded
• clownish
• thick
• buffoonish
• soft
• airheaded
• nonrational
• chuckleheaded
• surd
• ill-advised
• notional
• birdbrained
• boobish
• unconsidered
• chowderheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• sound
• prudent
• sensible
• intelligent
• judicious
• sane
• clever
• smart
• reasonable
• bright
• sagacious
• logical
• rational
• valid
• sapient
• sage
• brainy
• well-advised

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective inept contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of inept are awkward, clumsy, gauche, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When is it sensible to use awkward instead of inept?

The words awkward and inept can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

In what contexts can clumsy take the place of inept?

The meanings of clumsy and inept largely overlap; however, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When might gauche be a better fit than inept?

The synonyms gauche and inept are sometimes interchangeable, but gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When could maladroit be used to replace inept?

In some situations, the words maladroit and inept are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inept

The Brewers, whose 97-65 record was the best in MLB this season, were inept in the series scoring five runs on 14 hits in the four games. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 18 Oct. 2025

Mantzoukas joins the cast as Mayor Wayne John John-John, stepping into the political chaos as the city’s loudly inept leader. —Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

But the Jets have been mostly inept for a decade and a half, and the franchise has been groping for some sort of good fortune. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

The hitters on both sides in this series — some of the best in the sport — were rendered inept. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025