incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˌ)in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt 
1
a
: lacking the qualities needed for effective action : lacking necessary ability or skills
b
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
2
: not legally qualified
After hearing psychiatrist … witnesses … the court found Edwards incompetent to stand trial …—
Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008)
Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008)3
: inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose
incompetent
noun
incompetently
adverb
Examples of incompetent in a Sentence
He is too incompetent to be trusted with such an important responsibility.
The patient is mentally incompetent.
The defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial.
Recent Examples on the Web
But this time, instead of managing guest complaints, incompetent stews, and steamy boatmances as the chief stewardess of Parsifal III on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Daisy has jumped ship (literally) as the new chief stew on Below Deck Down Under.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 2 Feb. 2026
Oil from free America bailed out the virtue-signaling, totally incompetent Democrats here.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
That means the former voters died, moved away, registered in another state, were convicted of a felony crime, deemed incompetent to vote by a judge or were removed from the state's voter rolls because of inactivity.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
He was found incompetent to stand trial in July 2019 and later transported to Logansport State Hospital.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
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.
Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 2 Feb. 2026
Oil from free America bailed out the virtue-signaling, totally incompetent Democrats here.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
That means the former voters died, moved away, registered in another state, were convicted of a felony crime, deemed incompetent to vote by a judge or were removed from the state's voter rolls because of inactivity.
—Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 2026
He was found incompetent to stand trial in July 2019 and later transported to Logansport State Hospital.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incompetent. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
incompetent
adjective
in·com·pe·tent
(ˈ)in-ˈkäm-pət-ənt
1
: not legally qualified
especially
: incapable due to a mental or physical condition
2
: unable to function properly
incompetent heart valves
incompetently
adverb
Legal Definition
incompetent
1 of 2 adjective
in·com·pe·tent
in-ˈkäm-pə-tənt
1
: not legally qualified: as
a
: lacking legal capacity (as because of age or mental deficiency)
b
: incapable due to mental or physical condition compare competent
c
: lacking authority, power, or qualifications required by law
an incompetent court
incompetent evidence
2
: unable or failing to perform adequately
fired for being incompetent
an incompetent attorney
compare ineffective assistance of counsel
incompetent
2 of 2 noun
: a person who is incompetent compare interdict
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
