as in unfit
lacking qualities (as knowledge, skill, or ability) required to do a job
an incompetent carpenter had built the deck, and the railings were loose already
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Recent Examples of incompetent
Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
While Parker was scheduled to face trial for the alleged murder of Thomas, court records show he had previously been found incompetent to stand trial in an earlier case.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Adjective
The war in Iran is the result of incompetent diplomacy.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
While Parker was scheduled to face trial for the alleged murder of Thomas, court records show he had previously been found incompetent to stand trial in an earlier case.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Dodgers reached the pinnacle honestly, in a capitalistic structure that properly hands no favors to the incompetent.
—Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incompetent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetent
Adjective
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One of the panelists was Peter Beinart, the writer whose book had been deemed unfit for study at Beth El.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
There’s a longstanding debate about the relative health effects of being overweight versus being aerobically unfit.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Mix Materials The beauty in the unfitted kitchen aesthetic is found in its collected look.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 May 2025
-
The venerable American clan at the center of the narrator’s reminiscences are wholly unfitted to the modern world and no longer endowed with the fortune that one of them brought home long ago on clipper ships.—
Daniel Akst,
WSJ,
2 Sep. 2022
Adjective
-
Both view the Lebanese government as still completely incapable of disarming Hezbollah, though both were shocked at the new assertiveness of Beirut as seen by Tuesday’s banishment of Iran’s ambassador.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
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Unfortunately, her plot confines these characters to another narrow set of roles, and most of them are portrayed as incapable of leaving their cage.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The two-bedroom has an open plan, expansive desert views, wide-plank flooring, a butcher-block island, and stainless appliances.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
30 Mar. 2026
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And one of the big additions to the braise is asking a butcher for lamb bones and fat that Croft roasts off to add another layer of flavor and richness to the braise.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For more instant gratification, grab a muddler (or the back of a wooden spoon or the end of a rolling pin).—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetent. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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