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
This incompetence is portrayed painfully well on the show.
—
Ginny Hogan, Parents, 17 Dec. 2025
Berry argues that this failure owes to the poor implementation of reform policies, political resistance by large landowners, and the corruption and incompetence of officials.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
While there is generally more going on than in the uneventful first movie, the sequel’s writing displays a different kind of incompetence.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2025
In short, nothing about these statements suggests ignorance or incompetence; indeed, to assume so would also be to assume ignorance or incompetence from DHS's legal counsel, who repeatedly failed to prevent these statements from being made in DHS's official communications to the public.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
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Ginny Hogan, Parents, 17 Dec. 2025
Berry argues that this failure owes to the poor implementation of reform policies, political resistance by large landowners, and the corruption and incompetence of officials.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
While there is generally more going on than in the uneventful first movie, the sequel’s writing displays a different kind of incompetence.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2025
In short, nothing about these statements suggests ignorance or incompetence; indeed, to assume so would also be to assume ignorance or incompetence from DHS's legal counsel, who repeatedly failed to prevent these statements from being made in DHS's official communications to the public.
—New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetence. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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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