ineptitude

noun

in·​ep·​ti·​tude (ˌ)i-ˈnep-tə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

: the quality or state of being inept

especially : incompetence

Synonyms of ineptitude

• inability

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

Wilks was fired before the end of the season as his unit reached historic levels of ineptitude — and went a full 17 games without an interception. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

The Dolphins’ ineptitude has accelerated since 2009, when Ross took ownership of the organization. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026

But that should have been at Dicker’s feet, not the officials’ ineptitude. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026

Microfinance was hailed as a panacea, a low-cost solution to ineptitude, corruption, and limited state capacity that could both help the poor and benefit socially conscious investors. —Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin ineptitudo, from ineptus

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ineptitude

• beatitude
• decrepitude
• disquietude
• exactitude
• infinitude
• ingratitude
• midlatitude
• similitude
• solicitude
• accrued
• allude
• collude