inept

adjective

in·​ept i-ˈnept 

1

: generally incompetent : bungling

inept leadership

2

: lacking in fitness or aptitude : unfit

inept at sports

3

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

an inept metaphor

4

: lacking sense or reason : foolish

ineptly

i-ˈnep(t)-lē 

adverb

ineptness

i-ˈnept-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• incompetent
• unfit
• unfitted
• incapable

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

So, what’s the difference between being awkward and being inept? —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

The new and inept Federal Reserve crushed credit availability. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 June 2025

There will be a lot of shameful words written here about how embarrassingly inept your team are. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025

But, in Armstrong’s universe, tech is never morally in the black, and the people who create it are no better than despots—inept ones, at that. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French inepte, from Latin ineptus, from in- + aptus apt

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for inept

• accept
• adept
• except
• precept
• sidestepped
• transept
• windswept
• crept
• kept
• leaped
• leapt
• prepped

Kids Definition

inept

adjective

in·​ept in-ˈept 

1

: not suited for the occasion : inappropriate

an inept remark

2

: lacking in skill or ability : incompetent

ineptitude

-ˈep-tə-ˌt(y)üd

noun

ineptly

-ˈep-(t)lē 

adverb

ineptness

-ˈep(t)-nəs 

noun