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 Because the Steelers aren’t associated with such ineptitude. Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023 Offensive ineptitude might be a polite way to put it. Ainslie Lee | Alee@al.com, al, 11 Sep. 2023 Read full article If the offense is merely competent — which would be an enormous upgrade over last season’s Matt Patricia-led tribute to ineptitude — the Patriots will be a much better team this season. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 Of course, aggression by Russia against NATO member states seems even more inconceivable now that Russia has bled away combat power and demonstrated military ineptitude in its invasion of Ukraine. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023 Stupidity and ineptitude are no excuse for criminality. Readers, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2023 Rather than owning up to roster and facility decay while pocketing revenue-sharing money from other clubs, Fisher and club president Dave Kaval, with the occasional snarky support from Manfred, claim fan and civic indifference, not ineptitude, is the reason the club must relocate to Las Vegas. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2023 Since then, Hollywood has not produced a single film about women that’s not mired in umbrage or ineptitude. Armond White, National Review, 26 July 2023 Guinn’s excellent, infuriating and sad account of David Koresh’s evolution into a paranoid religious fanatic, his rise to leadership of the Branch Davidians, and the ineptitude that culminated in the FBI’s lethal attack on the religious group’s compound outside Waco, Tex. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2023 See More

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 4 Oct. 2023.

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