inept

adjective

in·ept | \ i-ˈnept

Definition of inept

1 : lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit inept at sports

2 : lacking sense or reason : foolish

3 : not suitable to the time, place, or occasion : inappropriate often to an absurd degree an inept metaphor

4 : generally incompetent : bungling inept leadership

Other Words from inept Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about inept

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Choose the Right Synonym for inept

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct). awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. periods of awkward silence clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. a clumsy mechanic maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. a maladroit politician inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. a hopelessly inept defense attorney gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of inept in a Sentence

Not only does the post have a narrow mandate, covering such sexy subjects as nuclear waste and solar energy, but the secretary presides over the most inept bureaucrats in the land. — Franklin Foer, New Republic, 3 July 2000 The real hackers have an understanding of technology at a basic level. … The rest are talentless poseurs and hangers-on, either completely inept or basic criminals. — Bruce Schneier, Secrets & Lies, 2000 To Cornelius, the White House travel office must have seemed—as it would have to any of the others who had served on the tight ship of the campaign's travel operation—an appallingly inept … operation. — Peter J. Boyer, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 1996 He was completely inept at sports. He made an inept attempt to apologize.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tim Piazza was injured in falling down a set of basement steps, after which fraternity members made inept and even counterproductive efforts to help him. — Mark Scolforo, The Seattle Times, "Anti-hazing law in Penn St. student’s name goes to governor," 15 Oct. 2018 Among James and Lachlan Murdoch, the two princes jousting for control of the actual empire, take your pick between Kieran Culkin, who plays the reckless Roman, and Jeremey Strong, who plays his ruthless but inept brother, Kendall. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "Confirmed: Yes, Rupert Murdoch's Family Enjoys Watching "Succession"," 8 Apr. 2019 Perhaps only in a dream can one be so blithely inept. — John Anderson, WSJ, "The Heights of Obsession," 22 Feb. 2019 Other than that, the real suspense will be whether the M’s are inept enough to earn the No. 1 draft pick. — Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times, "Pitchers and catchers reporting in a month brings little sunshine for Mariners fans," 13 Jan. 2019 This is the groaning game, an inept tale of danger, entrapment and dismemberment. — Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, "‘Greta’ Review: Big Names, Small Chills," 28 Feb. 2019 Queen Village resident Warren Lipka was once a main player in one of the most inept heists of all time, in which a group of friends failed to steal from a $20 million book collection. — Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "Summer arts guide, Wells Fargo Center to get a new look | Morning Newsletter," 7 June 2018 Foes of the head tax spent months attacking City Hall as inept and wasteful. — Daniel Beekman, The Seattle Times, "Seattle property-tax levy to test voters’ generosity toward education," 15 Oct. 2018 Two big exceptions to the trend are Venezuela, where some analysts say widespread corruption has deepened that country’s crisis, and Mexico, where an inept and politicized judiciary has failed to prosecute deeply rooted corruption. — Ryan Dube, WSJ, "Argentine Police Raid Homes of Ex-President Cristina Kirchner in Graft Probe," 23 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inept.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.