as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the astounding incompetence of the new assistant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incompetence
These aren’t stories about incompetence.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Corruption at the community school board level was far too common, with funds misused and hiring practices delivering incompetence.
—Stanley S. Litow, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
During his four years in the major crimes section, which focuses on lower-level felony cases, Reding Quiñones received poor evaluations from supervisors who cited his incompetence, the Miami Herald learned.
—Jay Weaver
august 13, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Two lawsuits playing out in court seek to remove trustees Randklev, Washington and Birt from office, alleging incompetence and mismanagement.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2025
Corruption at the community school board level was far too common, with funds misused and hiring practices delivering incompetence.
—Stanley S. Litow, New York Daily News, 17 Aug. 2025
During his four years in the major crimes section, which focuses on lower-level felony cases, Reding Quiñones received poor evaluations from supervisors who cited his incompetence, the Miami Herald learned.
—Jay Weaver
august 13, Miami Herald, 13 Aug. 2025
Two lawsuits playing out in court seek to remove trustees Randklev, Washington and Birt from office, alleging incompetence and mismanagement.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incompetence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incompetence
inability
Noun
-
If the continuity, cohesion and familiarity offered by those who stayed does not prove enough to keep Leeds in the league, the inability to sell efficiently in the summer window will be seen as one of the failings.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
France meanwhile faces an inability to push through budget legislation and a public unwilling to accept the spending cuts or tax increases needed to change its economic fundamentals.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incompetence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incompetence. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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