ineptitude

noun

in·​ep·​ti·​tude (ˌ)i-ˈnep-tə-ˌtüd How to pronounce ineptitude (audio)
-ˌtyüd
: the quality or state of being inept
especially : incompetence

Examples of ineptitude in a Sentence

The team's poor play is being blamed on the ineptitude of the coaching staff. the nurse's ineptitude made it clear that she would be happier in a different line of work
Recent Examples on the Web And then there’s Tier Three, the most sophisticated tier, where the joke is not so much on Kate or whatever ominous theory has been devised to explain her whereabouts, but on the utter ineptitude of the Royal Family to quell the rising surge of antipathy towards them. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024 Unlike Greta Gerwig’s toy-feminism, a marketing coup that sold misandry and ineptitude alongside vapid white privilege — all the more biased in its supporting cast of diversity tokens. Armond White, National Review, 5 Jan. 2024 The Lakers’ stumbles and ineptitude at both ends of the floor were epic in a 110-96 loss to the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday. Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 In fact, my night-one ineptitude forced me into what might have been the world’s fastest retirement. Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023 The Bruins made only eight of 17 field-goal attempts last season, their ineptitude largely a function of Kelly’s refusal to prioritize top high school kickers. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024 As is Probst's play-by-play during such ineptitude. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2023 The flawed initial response was compounded in the following days by an ineptitude that added to family members' anguish, according to the report. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Jan. 2024 Portrayed as an exercise in transparency under a crusading pope, the case nevertheless appeared to backfire in key ways, opening an unwanted window into the intrigue, infighting and ineptitude at heart of the world’s smallest sovereign state. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ineptitude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin ineptitudo, from ineptus

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ineptitude was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near ineptitude

Cite this Entry

“Ineptitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ineptitude. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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